Wedding RING FOUND!

The other day I got the urge to CLEAN!
So I decided to clean my bathroom drawers.  As i pulled out stuff I grabbed this cotton ball bag and as I went to leave the bathroom I caught a glimpse of my wedding ring at the bottom of that bag!  I couldn't believe it!  I remember taking that bag on my trip with cotton balls because you never know when you will need one to clean an owie.  I also REMEMBER putting my ring in this bag but I honestly did not think it was the last place I put it.  I know I wore it Sunday on our ride home from AZ but I guess I might have placed it in the bag before I got in the car, which is really funny because I also remember putting it in the glove box.  But I guess somewhere on the drive home I must have taken it out of the car!  

Kind of CRAZY how I don't remember exactly the story of how the ring got into the cotton ball bag.  Am I getting old and already having memory loss??  Seriously kind of weird.  But I am so thankful that I had the impression to clean and found my RING!  I ran to the kids and showed them the ring which they all had been praying so hard for me to find.  We said a prayer and thanked Heavenly Father for answering all our prayers!   It was a great feeling. 

I really had high hopes in finding this ring but usually when I misplace something I find it that day I realize it!  But I am just glad I got to exercise my faith!  I know Heavenly Father listens to our prayers. 

 

Utah Trip

It has begun...

 the SUMMER trip to Utah!  I never thought I would want to take that drive again but somehow made it there and back.  There, I had help with my Mom. On the way back, I was alone with 4 kids!  It was so crazy and I am just glad we made it safely home.  No flat tires, no sick kids, really I couldn't have asked for a more smoother trip!

We saw Halle, Eva, Noah, Emma, and Lucy!  It was fun going to the new Bean Museum and walking around BYU!  We also got to stop in at Wilson Diamonds where Justin and I worked as NEWLY WEDS!!!  Wow, sooo many great memories there!!!  It was so fun seeing old friends!  

We had fun.  I enjoyed myself with NOT taking the camera and just enjoying the moment.  I get really tired of taking pictures so these are taken from my sister's iphone.  

 We had a great time taking the tracks to Salt Lake.  But sadly I forgot my stroller so it was hot and tiring carrying McKay around.  My Mom also helped carrying McKay all the way to the train station.  CRAZY!  I am so thankful for her who constantly helps!

 The boys got in trouble for calling 911 which was in LARGE BOLD numbers all over the phone!  Hope they learned their lesson!

 A COOL treat for walking SO FAR all around Salt Lake! The spray ground in Utah is FREEZING but the kids still had fun!

 The spray ground isn't the same in UTAH.  FREEZING!!  But the kids still had fun!

 

"I put your sandals away!"

The other day I was really upset because I lost another pair of FLIP FLOPS.  My kids LOVE to play hide and seek in my closet and somehow my shoes always get taken.  So I finally found both pairs  because they were under my wedding dress and tv way back in my closet.  This morning Carden came into my room and said in a whisper, "Mom I put your sandals in the closet!"  When I finally got ready this morning I noticed my sandals nicely put away where they belong!!  It was such a TREAT!  I am thankful to be a Mother.  It is hard work.  I just hope I am helping my kids more than I feel like I am ruining my kids. 

Lost my Wedding RING!

I lost my ring two weeks ago and now I am feeling hopeless about ever finding it.  I knew that I was going to lose it right when I took it off in the car on my way home from AZ when I COMPLETELY remember HEARING THE SPIRIT SAY, "DON'T TAKE OFF YOUR WEDDING RING, you will NEVER FIND IT AGAIN!"  I took it off though because I was going to fall asleep and I don't like sleeping with my ring on.  I placed it in the little box ABOVE the glove box where there was NO way of it getting LOST THOUGH!!!!  I WAS FOR SURE it would be fine.  We were almost home.  But then TWO WEEKS went by before I actually thought, "OH MY RING is in the CAR!" 

Went to go look for it and it was gone.  I have cleaned everything.  LOOKED everywhere in the house.  No where.  It is gone.  I knew it.  I knew it would happen but denied the spirits prompting.  The other night Brooke out of no where whispered, "Mom I hope you find your wedding ring."  It made me want to hear it again.  Wow such sweet words.  Lately life has been REALLY REALLY hard.  Having two 4 year olds is crazy.  They constantly fight and say things that bug each other and it was REALLY nice finally hearing something sweet come out of my daughters mouth.  I really hope I find my wedding ring too.  I had high hopes of finding it but as days keep going by I am sure it is gone forever.

Motherhood.  I wanted to do a post on Mother's day but never have time to just sit and think.  Motherhood at this stage in my life is STILL REALLY HARD.  Really DIFFICULT. Really tiring.  Really scary.  Motherhood is hard.  It is the HARDEST thing I have ever done.  Having kids is hard but now trying to teach them is even more difficult.  I always feel like I am a failure.  It is so hard disciplining kids.  It is so hard staying on a schedule.  So hard trying to balance everything in life with what we are SUPPOSED to DO and what we WANT TO DO!  So many things to DO and so many things to DO BETTER that it is almost too much to handle.  It is sometimes so hard being a MORMON MOM.  I am trying to do the right things but never does anything go the way I set my day out to be.  I think that is the hardest part for me.  I just want LIFE TO BE PERFECT.  I want it sooo bad to be perfect but its not and then I get so discouraged.  I am so far from what I want to be that it is scary to think about trying to help my kids become something that they want to be!  

It is the days where I just get out of the house and walk by the river that make my day go well.  Seeing the water, the trees, the lizards, the birds, the squirrels, and just letting my kids roam free that life finally feels ok.   

MAY Mother's Day weekend

 We decided to drive down to AZ for Jaren's homecoming talk!  I am so glad we went even though it was such a short trip!  We went to his farewell and it was so special being able to hear Jaren's sweet testimony both before and after the mission!  What a great example he is!  We started the trip off well with swimming and seeing the BEAUTIFUL GILBERT AZ temple!!! 

 Brooke of course enjoyed being held in Jaren's arms!  She sure missed her Uncle! 

 We loved seeing our cousins that we NEVER get to see!!!  They had so much fun! 

 Brooke and Halle loved the POOL! 

 Noah and McKay loved the basketball hoop!!

 The GIRLS all got to go to Aunt Michelle's BRIDAL shower!!! It was a wonderful morning with games, gifts, and GOODIES!!!

 Brooke loved sitting on Great Grandma Litta's lap!!! 

 We also got to hold Amy's sweet baby EVA!!  Brooke enjoyed holding a baby girl sooo small!!

 We dressed Michelle up in a ONE OF A KIND wedding dress!  Made by all the girls!

 So PRETTY!

 We of course ended the trip with a LARGE ASADO!!!  mmmmmm

 Everyone wore their ARGENTINE WEAR!!

 

FLASHBACK Of JAREN BEFORE the MISSION at his FAREWELL! 

What a wonderful MOTHER's DAY it was!!!  Papi made us all breakfast with french toast fresh berries and yummy buttermilk syrup!!!  It was such a memorable Mother's day being with such AMAZING MOTHERS and being able to listen to Jaren's AMAZING testimony and hear the GREAT things he accomplished on his MISSION by doing the WILL of the LORD!!!  Thanks so much for letting us come and make great memories!  

April

 April we had Easter break and decided to stay around and go to Grandma's and Grandpa's house since Daddy had to work.  We swam, played with the kittens, and enjoyed being with family! We stopped at Bravo farms on the way home!

 The kids enjoyed the TREE HOUSE and LARGE HORSE!!! 

 Daddy made EGGS Benedict and it was delicious!  The kids didn't really enjoy it though. 

 Max, Travis, and McKay loved riding in this little BUGGY! 

 A CAMP fire is ALWAYS THE BEST PART with marshmallows!! 

 The kids are actually starting to do a great job at mallow roasting!!!

 McKay skipped the roasting and stuck the whole thing in his mouth!!!  This no treat boy somehow likes marshmallows! 

For Mormon Helping Hands we did a community 5K run for Prescription Drug Awareness.   It was my first real run.  I placed 5th in my age group.  I probably should have pushed myself a little harder but I was just enjoying my run all by myself!!!  :)

Female 30 to 34

1

Jen Stout

3484 32 24 26:19.76 8:29/M

2

Jodi Holeman

Clovis 3044 33 27 26:34.26 8:34/M

3

Nicole Simes

Clovis 3279 32 45 28:12.90 9:06/M

4

Jill Smith

Clovis 3288 34 49 28:17.71 9:07/M

5

Marin Sweeney

Clovis 3317 30 69 29:47.44 9:36/M

 It was a really fun run but REALLY HOT!!!  The kids were so hot and sweaty just playing at all the bounce houses.  It was sad that it was so hot because the next week was nice. 

 The boys had to take off their shirt since they were soaked in sweat!!  haa haa!!

April was a great month!  We played a lot and enjoyed swimming, running, tennis, & baseball.  Carden is getting really good at hitting and catching and it is really fun to watch him play with so many good friends!  The kids love to swim and I am so happy because really that is all you can do around here in 100 degree weather! 

Brooke finished up her music class and enjoys singing the songs now that the class is over.  Hey but at least I know she ACTUALLY learned something!  Brooke is doing really well in dance.  Her leaps are finally straight and in the air!  She remembers dance terminology well and has posture when she stands in 1st and 2nd.  Her back is long and straight with no duck tail!  She always has GOOD toes pointed!  She definitely "TWINKLES" when she makes up her mind to actually focus and do the dances we are working on.  It has been hard being her dance teacher.  I think every Mother goes through that though when teaching their own kids something.  We are getting ready for our performance in the beginning of June.

Rhead loves to tease McKay and play NINJA's.  They are so silly and run around with their swords and fight!  I am hoping to put Rhead in a swim class but I think I am just going to do basketball this summer since most of them act like only 5 year olds allowed.  

Carden turns SIX!

 Carden turned 6!  So we decided to try out this pizza place that the Young Women recommended Johnny's pizza.  It wasn't good pizza but the kids love the ice cream and rides!  We had a great day with watching General Conference, going to Carden's baseball game, and then onto pizza and rides!

 Carden opened his presents right when he woke up!  He got some cool stuff!

 We were sooo LUCKY to have NANA and PAPI here to celebrate this special day!

 Since we can't live close to UNCLE MIKE with his WAY COOL MOTORCYCLE we decided this might have to do!  Rhead thought this motorcycle game was pretty AWESOME!!!  Look at that face!

 I think Brooke is ready for SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN!!! This girl has NO FEAR!!

 Haa haaa...maybe DADDY needs a new RIDE!!!  These boys loved the motorcycle!

 The TRIPLETS! Nana, Justin, and Justina!   :)  

 Brooke and her STUNTS with Daddy and Papi! 

 Rhead loves to ride his bike!!!  He FLIES!!!

 We ended the weekend off with CUPCAKES in the CASTLE with our COUSINS!!!

and of course a game of BASKET  BALL! 

Thanks everyone for all the BIRTHDAY CARDS, GIFTS, and LOVE!!!!  It was so wonderful having company and being able to celebrate Carden's life!!!  Can't believe Carden is SIX!!!  I will never forget when he was born.  He was born just in time to welcome our new Prophet Thomas S. Monson!  It was a special time being in Provo and living close to soo much family and being introduced to the hard life of Motherhood.  Carden was such a good baby and is still a good boy!  He is so thoughtful and tender.  Carden doesn't always want to say the prayers but when he does volunteer you can tell he has thought deeply about the things he is thankful for.  

The other night he said,  

"We are thankful for this world we have to live in.  We are thankful for our bodies that we can move.  We are thankful for our families so that we are not alone."