Peace

Lately our days have been filled with me working to get everything I HAVE to get done before this baby comes, which includes crazy things like painting walls, not baby room walls just walls. Decorating shelves, cleaning out whatever I fill the need to etc. Or me so exhausted and my body aching that I am to tired to play with my existing fantabulous children, dumb I know that is the brain of a psychotic crazy women. Anyway, this weekend, well it was different! It was a fantastic weekend! We began the weekend with a little fire and pitching of the tent in the backyard. Camping in your own backyard is AWESOME! We had low stress with 3 young kids and when your back yard looks like an abandoned forest you feel as if you are truly in the woods away from the stress of home. I being 9 months pregnant got to sleep in my own bed while the kids and the hubs slept outside. KB's comment to me in the morning was. . .

I woke up like 3 times and counted stars I counted 30 stars can we camp out again tonight!

Next we went to Soccer games and although the kids played at the same time, different fields, again! I had the bonus of having Swifty home today which meant both kids were watched throughout their whole game. The real BONUS of the morning was Both kids carried the ball down the field and scored goals!!!!!!!!!

GO THUNDER!

GO LIGHTNING!

(okay please ignore how high the kiddos shorts are appearantly we got the riding shorts)

We came home to a lovely afternoon of Conference kids playing joyfully together in the tent (I may never take it down) , riding bikes, and eating A LOT of candy. You know if you choose to sit reverently and watch conference you choose to be able to eat lots of candy! I know bribing with candy=no good. However, my kids asking when it is conference weekend for 3 weeks before hand and actually sitting without fighting, and asking questions or at least repeating some of the words they here from our leaders= totally worth the candy bribe. Well until Sunday night and we have had 2 days worth of candy!

Sunday we spent the day enjoying our family, watching conference, and picnicking. Ahhh, it is weekends like this that make me wonder why do I get so caught up in the getting things done. It is definitely the less enjoyable life!

Airplanes

I Love little boys and their noises,

I can hear the roar of the engine and the speed of the wind

as I look at these pictures of my Hieselt.

Who knew something so simple could be so entertaining.

I Love the innocence of a child.

FEBRUARY

The beginning of February brought a small amount of this. . . .

. . . which brought a lot of smiles and FUN!

The middle of February brought temperatures that allowed to play outside like this. . .

. . . which brought more smiles and FUN

Man we love Southern Weather!

Mother's day goal

Kids . . . I Love kids! I have always loved kids! Before I had my own kids I loved teaching kids especially the really challenging ones that made you learn to be creative in your interactions with them so a. they would know they were special and loved and b. you could get a desired behavior out of them. I went to college and learned about kids. I guess you could say I am a kid person. This brings me to my thoughts of late. Swifty and I are both kid people, who believe in age appropriate ______________ , it doesn't really matter what the blank is it could be restaurant, movie, music, etc.. I wonder if we have naturally and joyously made our children's lives so age appropriate that without even realizing it we have hindered our children's growth. I wonder if I have sheltered their world so much that I have taken all of me and Swifty out of our family. That their memories of me will not reflect the person I am or strive to become. That the things they remember about our family and their childhood will not reflect the things we like to do individually or as a couple, or even worse that they are not able to step out of their comfort zone because they have never had too. Yes I realize age appropriate things are good and yes I realize my children are still very young and there is time for them to learn these skills, but I also realize that time is now and life is fast. Hey I think it is the fact that life is fast that got us here, most days there just isn't time for a lot of those things, and a lot of things we liked to do we don't like anymore but there isn't time to find a replacement for that thing. I don't feel like I have lost myself in my children or that I don't know who I am, but am afraid that they don't know who I am or what is important to me. So in honor of Mother's day my goal for the next year is to make my family a little more equal, meaning mostly age appropriate life with a little bit of Mom and Dad stuff thrown in to help our kids understand us and hopefully be stretched in their growth and patience even if just a little.

moments

Buster: Hieselt can we just pretend you are a girl with short hair.

Ideas

I need ideas!! There are about 8 youth in our ward that are graduating this year and headed out West for college. Matt and I both teach them so I would love to do something for them. Any ideas on Great (Inexpensive) graduation gifts?

Basket of Love

Last night I woke up to my sweet little girl tapping me on the shoulder asking for the basket of Love! I kept saying KB what basket are you talking about finally Swifty sits up and says she wants the basket of Love. I looked at him and said what is that as he rolls over and goes right back to sleep. Lovely! Finally I look at KB and say I don't know about the basket of love breathe deeply (probably sounded more like a childish huff!) roll over and close my eyes, Surprisingly KB dropped to my floor layed down, pulled a blanket over herself and went to sleep too. The next morning it was made clear that there was no basket of love and I am not CRAZY!