April showers...and help from the sprinklers

Guys. Life is ups and downs. Days have more or less amount of highs and lows. Today, I'm loving the sunshine and slower pace of life, but so over the monotony of being stuck at home. We've confined ourselves extra well since Ruby has a scan and dr visit at Primarys tomorrow and you can't mess with the health of anyone there. So, the girls are being really patient and staying away from friends and neighbors. Overall we are thriving and doing well. We've had practice at this kind of hard when we purposely homeschooled last year, but we're still running the same marathon as everyone else, still wiping the same tears over math frustrations.

Let me think about all the good things to lift my spirits....Mark's been working on a tree house in the backyard, much better meals being made. Srouted whole wheat bread, hazelnut ice cream, picking up lunches from the school (so convenient and has been so helpful for me). Plenty of time for bike rides and walks. Time to work in the yard, or look at the work we could/should do ;) Girls have been spending lots of time on the trampoline. I'm

....I wrote the above on Thursday...its now Saturday evening. Had a great day. Yard work, cleaning, groceries and a walk with Siri and Jane. Just baked cookies and we're watching Napoleon Dynamite.

Ruby's scan shows all is well!

Thankful.

I'm thankful for our health and safety. For a big yard. For new opportunities that I don't know about yet but are out there. For Spotify and Christ centered music. For the hour before the sun comes up. For encouraging podcasts, friends and neighbors.

silver linings

morning chat between Mark, our rabbit named Handsome, and Ruby

ugh. I hate the difficulty of blood draws without a port.

listen to this podcast. #318 by Brooke Castillo

This is a farewell to some of the best used shoes.

They belonged to Sam, (maybe Jane), Ruby, and Annie.

Lots of bike hike running miles on them.

Treehouse things

love my fam. 

best.bread. ever. thanks to Mark and his yeast buddy he keeps in the fridge.

This loaf was sprouted whole wheat. It tasted legit sourdough and had

a good chew to it from the sprouted wheat. My. favorite.

And he made nutella ice cream

and pizza

Easter morn.

Fun hearts from a neighbor.

I'm studying to take the Personal Trainer Cert exam.

Knowing all the muscles and bones is tricky for my brain!

Give me tips to learn this biz if you have any.

This card made me cry. My birthday was March 18, the week after everything hit the fan and shut down. Siri went around the neighborhood and got all these friends and neighbors to sign the card.

It meant so much to me!  P.S. that earthquake made me feel like the hand of God was waking me up to wish my Happy Birthday. Never had my heart race and sweat so fast!

We were in St.George the weekend that all the things closed. 

Since we were on vacation it didn't seem real and we had a great weekend.

Christmas Birthday

Today is Ruby's birthday!  With snow falling much of the day, her new toys to play with and special breakfast, it felt a little like Christmas.  The girls are growing up fast and Mark and I are trying hard to soak it in before it passes us by.  Especially with Siri going to middle school next year, we're in a really sweet spot right now. The older 3 all at the same school, still sharing a room, usually get along together. Life is good. All the girls are doing well at school. Ruby loves to do homeschool on Tuesdays. She still goes to the hospital every 28 days and is on the same trial drug, taking a pill at home every day. Her next scan is the end of March.

I got a new calling at church, now helping with the youngest class of Young Women in our ward. Its only been a week but I love it! I'm also teaching a small group training class at VASA every Monday 9am and a spin class every Wednesday at 9. I love it. I love helping people. I love having to learn and prepare ahead of time. I love the little bit of nervous I feel being in front of people. Excited that it's March because that means spring, and change, and my birthday!

We've had some fun ski days this winter. Siri has the 5th grade passport so we've been able to take her a few more times. She's also in the school musical that is in April, "Annie". Jane is loving tumbling class and is so brave...in February I dropped her off at Camp Magical Moments in Swan Valley, ID at a camp for kids who have a sibling with cancer. She didn't know anyone and was one of the youngest kids. She had an awesome weekend and wants to go again. We got to see our friends, the Harper fam while we were that direction. Love and miss them!  And let's all give a round of applause to life without diapers (except at night)...wahoooo!  Potty trained Annie and she's doing great. I heart not having to change her bum anymore. Its my favorite and my best.

Mark has been trying to get out touring about once a week this winter. Its good for the soul. He is waiting to get a new tooth so in the meantime, he loves smiling ear to ear without his retainer in, or fakes that he suddenly got hurt and will pretend he just lost his tooth. And to back it all the way up to the end of December, miss Jane turned 9! Such a fun day to have a birthday! We love her so much and are thankful for her. We went ice skating, she got frozen yogurt with cousins, and a party at Liz and Dan's.

The girls each made a goal, accomplished it, 

so we got to go stay at a hotel!

Ruby's birthday date with her bestie cousin Sam

Deer Valley ski day with Grandma Carol. A perfect sunny day!

Ruby is a prime example of kindess

love my girls!

Annie loves to visit Brother Dallon, and his candy stash.

Visit with the Harpers!

Jane excited for her weekend away.

Growup birthday party for a friend of ours...one quality about Mark I love is that 

he knows how to PLAY! Like, all the sweat and somersaults kind of play. 

Another hospital day.

Mark's latest skillzzzz...baking bread from natural yeast. Best.Smell.Ever.

Young Women's activity with Siri

Cute sis Liz got a new knee and is doing amayzzzing at recovery!

hey there buckaroo

love our trips to St.George

Fresh glazed Krispy Kreme per her request