Tristin's Field Day...

Yesterday the girl's and I braved the rain and sat outside huddled in a ball watching Tristin's field day!It was at 9:00 AM, so we got poured on. We were under dressed, umbrella-less and the girl's were freezing. Tristin did great and won 4 ribbons! 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th place! He was kind of nervous about it before, but I think it wore off as soon as he started running & jumping!( and yes, I did go back home for dry clothes, thicker coats and hot chocolate!)

Welcome Samuel Owen...

My sister in law is an amazing woman- I cannot even put into words how I feel for her, she loving, selfless and full of patience, I simply love her.

When we showed up for Easter dinner, we found out that she had gone into labor 2 months early and delivered samuel the night before- breech, I might add! They left their house at 7:15 PM for the hospital, and by 8:05 PM he was born. There wasn't time to even get her hooked up to anything, or even turn the baby so she could deliver him in the right position! I don't know how she did it, but she did. He was 3 lbs 12 oz and taken to Boise right away. He will be in the NICU for 6-8 weeks, unless he does better, faster than expected. Ellen, G-ma & I went to see him Easter evening, and although he was small, he looked really good. It was heartbreaking, overwhelming and such a joyous time- it was one of those spiritual moments were you feel closer to Heavenly Father.
We are praying for him everyday- and for Ellen & the family.
Welcome little Samuel!

Finding their baskets...

Here's the crew finding their baskets...

The Hunt with the cousins...

Every year I have an Easter egg hunt for the cousins and we do it at G-ma's house. This year was a pretty big one and they had a blast!

The hunts...

I have a phrase or motto that I say several times a day that encourages me to be a better Mom. It is: "It's not about me."
It reminds me that even when I don't want to play Candyland, or walk to the park, or read the really long stories or stop and watch the 100th summersalt- I need to- because it's not about what I want- it's about my kids doing what brings them joy, and at their little ages, the smallest things bring the greatest happiness- hence the Easter egg hunts. Why not let them get excited about something? Why not let them run and collect eggs that make them squeal with delight? Why not have 3? And so we did...

The Bunny Cake...

It pretty much looks the same every year, but it's tradition and must be posted about!

Eggs...

The Easter festivities began a few days ago, including:
3 Easter egg hunts. Dying Easter eggs. Making the Bunny cake. Going to Church. And reading our Easter story in eggs.

Willow is in Nursery!!!

Willow has been in Nursery for 2 weeks now!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, church is so wonderful when you're not chaising a tired toddler around for 2 hours! And these are the only 2 terrible pictures I could get!

Grace asleep on the bathroom floor...

Last week after we came home from Kara's house, Grace started feeling really sick. It was totaly out of the blue, only lasted for a hour and when I went to check on her, I found her asleep on the bathroom floor! After she woke up, she looked at me and said, "I feel better now, Mom."

The Girls...

Here we are last week, and yes, someone covered the flash again!

Willow isn't the baby anymore...

Willow is definatly growing up these days! It's pretty funny when she tries to put diapers on her babies!

Playing with friends...

Last week we went over to kara's house to play for a few hours. The girls had fun while kara & I layed on the couch and tried to do as little as possible.

Say Cheese...

Willow has started to do the cheesy smile when you say, "Say Cheese"
Here's a few...

Sparkle N' Shine's New Spring Cleaning Rates!

Have any of you got the Spring Cleaning Bug yet???
If not, I'm here to help!
I've lowered my Spring rates to $ 25.00 a hour which makes it easy and affordable to get some of those projects completed!
You know me, I clean & organize just about anything & have gift certificates for Easter presents, Mother's Day, Birthday's, Baby Shower gifts- you name it!

A heart breaking moment...

Tristin & I have been having a few problems lately about the computer and he has been restricted from it for a few days because every time I told him he couldn't play for the day- I would find him on it later, with the excuse, "Oh I forgot"! I know I am a strict Mother and I follow through with what I say, which isn't always fun, but I also know, and my kids know, how much I love them too.
Last night after a "moment", I was really frustrated and left the room. I was getting the girls ready for bed when I went back in for something. He was holding a picture of him and I to his chest and he said, "Mom, do I make your life a living (and then he pointed down as to refer to Hell). He started to cry and I said, "Oh buddy, of course not." The tears fell faster and I climbed up on the top bunk and scooped him up.
He cried for awhile and I was trying not to let him see mine as well. I made him look right into my eyes and I told him how much I loved him, how my life was better because he was in it, how he was my boy, how proud I was of him, how I knew I don't get all the explosions and weapon stuff, but that I loved everything about him. I told him I knew he had a wonderful heart which is why I expected a lot from him at times. We talked about choices and how I wanted him to be happy in life but how I did expect him to follow directions. I told him that I knew I got angry sometimes and that I needed to work on that, but that he could work on following directions too. I told him funny stories about when he was little and we were laughing by the end- but it broke my heart.
To think he thought he was making my life a living Hell, just hurt my heart. I just held him and rocked him until the tears were gone. He is my little man who I couldn't love more. I was reminded how soft my children are, how we all are really. I was reminded that while I need to continue to be loving and firm, I need to make sure I stop and hold him a little bit longer too.

To be a boy...

I have to admit, Tristin is pretty out numbered in this house- with 4 girls surrounding him! The past few days he has been training to be an assisian. That's right, you heard me. So, while I try not to be bothered by his sword drawings during school and his weapon making stations in the back yard, I surely didn't like the sound of wanting to become that! As parents, we hope they aspire to something better than killing people! I told him to go do a service project instead, but that didn't sound as fun aparently!
I had to laugh when I came across this list he started:

To be an Asasen (with a knife dripping blood)

1. hafe to have at lest 2 knifes and 1 pistol.

Last night I asked Trav about his behavior and I asked: is it typical boy stuff?" In which he replied, "Yup."
So, there you have it folks...

Even monkey's fall from the trees sometimes...

I think all my kids have been climbers, but Grace, even at 4, is ALWAYS climbing on things. When she was climbing on top of the crib railings the other day, I told her to get down- (but you know how well that goes over)Seconds later there was a crash followed by horrible crying. Long story short- she got a pretty good shiner!
...and she has admitted " I hate that stupid crib."

My 5 year love affair...

For the past 5 years there has been another love in my life... my super cute, adorable, and working retro fridge! I bought it 5 years at a yard sale for $ 40.00 and have been happily in love for years now... until a few days ago...
Long story short- it stopped working. (Insert horrible crying here!)
My neighbor came over to check it out (he does comericial refrideration) and let me know that the compressor was shot, but that he would bring his tools over this week & assess the damage. It's either fixable, or sadly might have to leave me and find another home AKA: the dump!
although we don't have a diagnoses yet, apart of me knows what the Dr will say, so I am super sadly dealing with the loss of my fridge. I have ADORED this thing for years now and before, wanted one for YEARS! And who finds one at a yard sale for $40.00 anyway???

While I am a kabillion times grateful for our "second fridge" brought in from the shed, that is working great but super ugly totally huge & crazy loud- I WANT MY OTHER FRIDGE BACK!!! ( The pictures are of the ugly fridge) I miss it already and it's only been on the porch for 2 days now. (Again, I am SUPER thankful, I'm just sad that my kitchen won't be complete now with all things retro!) Who knows, it might work out, we will see. These things sell on Ebay for $ 2500.00 and not even super cute ones like mine! So you see my sad, sad predicament- I will probably never own one again. (Unless the Yard sale angels once again come through for me!)
So if you hear or see a white retro fridge any where for under $ 100 and you don't want it for yourself- send it my way!

Lemon Pie...

Before Evonne fell and broke her hip, I had been telling her for a few weeks that we were going to have a date and go out for the yummy lemon pie she kept talking about. I had it planned the Friday that Tristin came down with Scarlet fever & strep throat, so it never worked out. Everyone had a zillion cases of illness's and I could never get over to take her. Then she fell, then was in the hospital and then transfered twice before she finally passed away on the April 1st. I told her on one visit in the hospital that she needed to hurry up and get better so we could go and eat our pie, but sadly, that day never happened.
It hurt my heart because I meant to do it, every week I would think ok, Wed looks free, I'll call her- and then something would happen to change everything. I have tried not feeling guilty about it, but I'm so sad it never happened.
In honor of Evonne, Andrea & I went to have pie after her funeral today. I know that she was looking down smiling and wishing she had a fork herself, it felt good to finally make it there. From now on, every April 1st, I plan to have lemon pie.
I will miss her with all my heart. I truely loved her and I cannot wait until I can see her again one day...

What is it with plastic bags???

Someone please tell me that your kids dress up in plastic bags too and that we are not the only goof balls on the planet who do so!

Working toward his wolf badge...

This past year in Scouts, Tristin has been working hard to complete all the requirements for his wolf badge. Thank the Lord for his amazing leader, Sister Izatt, who has been an amazing help too. We've turned Family Home Evening nights into scout projects and he is almost done! He only has a few left and he's done about 25 electives as well. Monday night was "Tool Night" and he got a bunch signed off. Next he needs to build something like a bird house or book ends, but I'm thinking a second story to our house would be rather nice!!!