They Keep On a Growin'!

Life is good here. Bella has grown like 2 in. in the past 2 months. SHe has started talking more clearly and pronouncing her words better, and every little baby (meaning kid younger than her, even by a few months) she sees she has to give them a big hug and try to "help" them walk, sit up, whatever. Of course its usually more of a hinderance to them than a help, but its so cute to see her mothering instinct be so strong at such a young age. Just within the past couple weeks, she puts "y" at the end of everything she says. "Where is my drinky?" "Can I have more juicy?" "Upy!" (Meaning "I want you to hold me") "I'm gonna tickle your feetsy!" "I wanna kissy!" No idea where she got it from, but its stinkin' cutesy!

Braxton started preschool this week! I can't believe my first little baby is going to preschool. He already LOVES it and is so proud of his little blue folder he takes back and forth with him. He has to show it to anyone who comes over, and he even asked to take it to church today so show all his friends and teacher there! He goes with his little buddy Jack and cousin Wyatt, so that I think has helped him adjust quickly and not be too sad to be away from me. I am excited for this school year and to see how much he learns and grows, both mentally and socially.

Conrad is just my happy little angel. He smiles all day, and smiles with his whole face. I love it and can never get enough. He loves to snuggle with me, loves being held, and is content to just hang onto my shirt like a little monkey while I go about my business and watch what I go. I love his wet slobbery kisses he gives me all day while he chatters away. What a blessing he is! He has been teething the last like 6 weeks, but those bottom gums are just being so stinkin' stubborn and won't let those two teeth pop through. He has been a little crankier than normal lately because of that but I still can't complain. Even WHILE he is teething he is an angel. He started baby cereal this last week and is totally excited about it, but not sure what he thinks of the taste yet. (He watches everything I put into my mouth like a hawk and always tries to grab it and stuff it into his own.) I am so in love with this little guy and wish he would stop growing so fast. I love this baby stage and am eating up every second I can get.

I heard a quote a couple months ago at stake conference that has stuck with me and become part of my life. It was,

"Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved."

I think about this every day. When my kids run through my newly mopped kitchen with fresh mud covering their feet. When all I want is peace and quiet and my children are playing the "who can scream the loudest game." When I FINALLY lay the baby down, only to have one or both hooligans run into my room laughing and screaming and wake him up again. All throughout my days situations happen where I am so tempted to lose patience with my children. And I do, alot. But EVERY time, this quote jumps into my brain. Its like the Lord is saying, "Ah Ah Ah, Sarah, remember!" And I have to stop, take a breath, and remind myself that its ok. I can mop the floor again. I can get the baby back to sleep, or enjoy peace and quiet that night when they are all dreaming in their beds. I have learned that its not worth the pain I see on their sweet little faces when I DO lose control. Because this life is all about relationships. Of everything we have here on this wonderful earth, that and our knowledge are the only things we are able to take with us. How sad would it be if I try so hard to make something right, only to make one of my children (or someone else) feel unloved along the way? Its something I am working on, and always will. I certainly haven't mastered it yet. But its always in my head, and I am grateful for that constant reminder. We could all use a little more love.

A Dream is a Wish the Heart Makes...

I was in the living room with Conrad early one morning, making the kids hot chocolate (they can't start their day without hot chocolate!) when Braxton suddenly runs in, eyes huge, hair a mess, staggering like a drunken man.

"MOM!" He said. "Santa Clause left me a present!" He started searching around the room frantically.

"Uh........" I stuttered as he tore apart the living room, "I think it was a dream, Braxton."

He stopped and looked at me like I'm crazy.

"Mom, no, Santa Claus left me a SHOOT GUN! And one for Bella too! Its over there!" And he runs over to where our Christmas tree usually stands.

"Braxton," I giggle "I think you had a dream. Its not time for Santa to come yet. Its not Christmas time."

"No, mom, Santa Claus gave me a shoot gun. Maybe its in my room." He dashed off to search for his treasure. I can't stop laughing at this point, but am feeling a bit bad too that there isn't going to be a present anywhere for my sweet boy. After a few minutes he comes walking back into the living room, looking dejected. My heart cracks a little for his dashed hopes.

"I'm sorry son. It must have been a dream. Dreams can seem really real sometimes, huh? But maybe when it IS Christmas time then Santa will bring you a shoot gun. Ok?"

Braxton's little freckled face was still and I could see his mind working, trying to figure out this mystery. "I thought he brought me a gun..." he lamented. My sweet boy. I never wished dreams could come true more in my life than at that moment.

A hug, kiss, and a warm sippy cup of hot chocolate and 10 minutes into Caillou, you were your happy self again. I was still laughing.

Bella's 2nd Bday! (Finally!)

I took Bella and Brax and some of our good friends to Jambo, an indoor theme park for kids for her birthday. The prices are way cheap for all day rides, and the kids LOVED it! Its definitely a place we will be visiting often this summer!

(I edited these pics, but for some reason they uploaded pre-edited...annoying. Sorry!)

This was Bella's favorite ride...the airplanes

My perfect little man

The train was awesome..they all loved it

A ride where you can beat eachother up without getting hurt? DEFINITELY Brax's favorite ride!

Cute vampire teeth. Of course my son has to be the one trying to bite someone's ear off..

Then on the 4th of July we combined celebrations and had a big party for Bella's and our country's birthday!

Swimming, food, presents, BAHAMA BUCKS, wonderful family and friends...can't get any better than that!

My pappa and baby boy

Birthday girl and her pretty bracelet Aubray made for her!

Our dear friend Aubray, 8 months prego!

Nate dog

Justin, playing with the kiddos in the pool

Becca and baby Margaret

Cannon Ball!!!! (Brax)

Aileen and Hannah

My wonderful mother, making Bella's cake to take some of the load off my back. I love this woman!

Jer-bear and Hannah, enjoying some red, white and blue Bahama bucks baby! Wahoo!

YUM!

THE CAKE!!! Isn't it AWESOME!!! My moms the best

PRESENTS!

And then we of course couldn't miss out on the fireworks that night! We all gathered and Nathan and Becca's new house and had our own firework display and let the kids get involved. Much more fun that way!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET BELLA!!!! You are loved more than you know.

Life's A Movin' Forward

I got my first "big" calling in church this week. Well, at least it feels big to me! The bishop and his councilor came over Thursday night to release me from Young Women's, and thats where I thought it ended. I was so sad to be released, young women's has seriously been my dream calling for so long. I love those girls and their beautiful testimonies and sweet spirits. It was truly a gift to be with them for as long as I was. But I had heard for some weeks that our whole YW and Relief Society were being changed out, so I wasn't too surprised to learn I was released. Then came the next part. One of other women who was with me in YW, who I look up to and admire so much, was called to be the new Relief Society president, and she wanted me as her secretary...

WHOA. If it had been anyone else as president, I would have thought maybe she didn't know my situation with how much of my time my children take up and wonder if I could really do this calling. But I have worked closely with her the past year and I know she knows how crazy Braxton and Bella are and how Conrad is attached at my hip, so if she knows that and has talked with the Lord and still believes I can still do this...then I will trust her and the Lord and give it my all, however much that may be. I think she has more confidence in me than I have in myself at this point though.

But I am excited too. I am excited to be working with her and the two other sweet and wonderful women that were called as her councilors. I have hardly been in RS at all since being married because my callings have taken me elsewhere, but the times I have been in there the spirit is so strong and there is such a feeling of sisterhood and love. I know they will all be so patient with me and understanding of my crazy kids, cause most of them have been there themselves. This will be a great chance for me to learn and grow and learn how to prioritize my time better. I have been feeling kind of stagnant lately in my spiritual and intellectual growth. Its hard to feel intellectual sometimes when you are talking baby talk to little children, discussing super heros and my little ponies, and wiping spit up off your shirt for the 100th time. Not that I resent any of that - its just takes some effort to remember I do indeed have a college degree. So I'm excited to be able to have an opportunity to challenge me again and help me grow. My biggest worry was finding time to do it all, but the bishop blessed me today to be able to indeed find that time and still have the needed time for my family and children. I am so grateful for an caring and in-tune bishop, and for a loving Savior and Father who know what I need and bless me with the ability to achieve it.

Funny thing is, two days after I got my call, Justin was visited by a member of the stake presidency and given another calling as well. Second councilor in the Elder's Quarum Presidency! He still teaches Sunday school and is the cub scout committee chairman, so until (and even after) he is released, he is going to be a busy boy. He will be wonderful, though. He is such a natural and strong leader. I am excited for the growth this will give him as well, and the opportunities it will hopefully present for our family to serve more. I have been thinking we need to do more service so our children can learn to put others before themselves. Ask and ye shall receive, right? :)

Life is moving forward, and how wonderful it is!

Something cute Braxton said today:

"Oh I am so full Mommy..."

"Oh ya?"

"Ya. See?" (patting his tummy) "Its saying, 'no more food!'"

P.S. My camera is currently MIA. As soon as I find it, Bella's Bday Bash will be up and runnin'!

Apples Apples Apples

A couple weeks ago my wonderful fam came over and helped me harvest my apple tree. No way I was going to get it done myself. From one tree, we got about 60 bags of apples. SIXTY! After about half of them were picked we stopped actually pickin' and just started shaking the branches to get them off...

My momma holding Brookie's baby, Sundee.

I love my Pappa!

THe kids had a ball playing around in our yard while we worked

Picking away!

Here they are...and you can't even see them all! I have been dehydrating and canning and juicing and making applesauce like crazy. I love that I have a tree that provides us with so much food, but boy is it alot of work. I am so sick of apples right now! And after all that and all the bags I have given away, I still have a ton left.

Anyone want to take some off my hands??

PLEASE??

Kiddos Photo Shoot 2011

So I finally got updated pics taken of the kids! Granted, it was back in February, before Conrad was born, but hey, better posting them late than never, right? There were some really awesome ones, but these were my faves. I certainly got some cuties for kiddos!

Picture Catch-Up

Conrad, 2 weeks old

Beautiful Bella. They don't come more precious than that...

Easter!! We had an awesome party the day before hosted by Becca and her cousin. The kids had a blast and they LOVED the easter egg hunt!

Easter Morning...

Conrad, One month Old on Easter Morn

Easter Sunday, all dressed up and ready to go! (B-rax is still learning how to hold Conrad...)

I have a very sweet and dear friend who decided to spoil my children and give them gifts. Brax and Bella both were given these totally awesome lounge chairs. They seriously sit in these anytime they are in the livingroom, watching tv, reading books, playing with toys, whatever. They are so in love with them! I could not have chosen a better gift for them myself. Thank you Nettie!! You are wonderful!! (They were actually saying "thank you" when I snapped the picture... :) )

My chillins, being posers for the camera. They are some good lookin' kids, if I do say so myself! :) Conrad - 2 month!

Here is a better picture of Conrad. 2 mo, and already trying to be just like his big brother! :)

These kids are growing like weeds!! Braxton starts swim lessons this Tuesday with Sis Rogers and will take them all of June. It will be so nice to have him swimming and not have to worry about him around the pool anymore. He already does pretty well with just his floaties, but you know there is always that worry about when he doesn't have them on, or if they snuck in the pool somehow, at least I know he is safe. Bella will be in them next year hopefully. Then he starts PRESCHOOL in Sept!! Wahoo! I am so excited for him to have something else other than me to stimulate his brain and social skills, but at the same time I am so sad. I can't believe my little baby boy is already about to start preschool. Then its kindergarten...and I cant even think about that yet. I start to hiperventilate just thinking about it! Bella is turning 2 in another month, and I swear she has grown at least 2 inches just in the past month. She is getting thinner and her hair is getting longer and she is turning into a little girl...no longer a toddler! She is all girl, loving the shoes and hair stuff and clothes and purses and dollies and make-up...I am already looking forward to the time when she and I can go on shopping dates and just have mommy-daughter time together!! :) She is so precious. Her answer to anything that I ask her right now is "cause I want to!" Bella, why did you take off your diaper? "Cuz I want to!" Bella, why did you take your shoes off? "Cuz I want to!" Bella, why did you drop your sippy? "Cuz I want to!" Bella, why did you leave your purse over there? "Cuz I want to!" As I said, ALL girl. :) I love her to pieces. Conrad is getting chunkier by the day and I love it! He is such a sweet angel baby. He had a few fussy weeks where he just cried and cried in the afternoons and evenings, and it was horrible. i thought it might be the dairy or chocolate I was eating so I cut both out of my diet....and let me tell ya... Nothing but the love of a mother for her child would make me give up dairy (frozen yogurt, cheese, milk, yogurt!!) and chocolate! It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do, and I was so depressed that I might have to do it until I was done nursing. YIKES! Thankfully though it turned out it wasn't that, he was just having a few hard weeks, so I was able to eat my favortite foods again. I think I ate Fro Yo like 2x a day for two or three days straight right after I started eating dairy again. :) I'm addicted. So anyways, he is doing so much better and is just a wonderfully wonderful baby. I love love love him and adore smooching his fluffy cheeks and listening to him coo and flirt with me!!!

Hope everyone has a happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all those who have served our country so we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten!