My thoughts on Motherhood

Do you ever just sit back and become completely overwhelmed with the fact that you're a mother? That this child or children are relying on us to teach them good principles? To teach them to be good people and love life? I don't know if motherhood has consumed my thoughts, because my daughter is turning eight soon and will be baptized, or having a new baby in the home, or the combination of both. But my thoughts are continually on motherhood. Am I being a good mom? Am I setting a good example? Am I preparing my children for the good and bad things of life? Do I tell me kids enough how important they are to me?

Motherhood, to me, is like this big, giant, scary, wonderful, roller coaster ride. There are highs and lows, scary parts, exciting parts, fun parts, parts that make us want to get off and parts that make us want to hold tight and stay on. You don't know what is going to happen next. And before we know it the ride will be over!

I am scared and excited to watch my children learn and grow. To make mistakes and make me proud. To see them with their own children, wives, and husbands. And although it scares me...it mostly makes me completely and utterly overwhelmed!

Overwhelmed that the Lord has blessed and entrusted me with four beautiful wonderful children. Overwhelmed at the capacity of love I can have for each of them. Over whelmed with the hope that I can "measure up to" at least a smidgen of my own mother and mother's I admire! I feel overwhelmed with the fact that although I am FAR from perfect, these little creatures that I love so much love me back, despite my shortcomings as a mother.

With all the scary things we experience as mothers, the good far out weighs the bad! It is the small moments when I hear one of my children utter a sweet innocent prayer, or the moments they whisper they love me, or look at me and smile that completely make every minute of motherhood worth it. The never ending laundry fades away to the back of my mind, the bills, the housework, the yard work, all of it disappears and nothing else matters besides my family and the love that is all consuming, that I have for them!

I can't think of a better word to be called then "Mom".
Yes, motherhood is sacred, special, wonderful, and great!!

I may have those days when I want to throw in the towel, but all I have to do is look at my children and quickly remember those little things that make it all worth it and I am completely overwhelmed with my blessings once again!!

Getting paid in smiles, hugs, and kisses is the best pay check I have ever received!

I love this thing called MOTHERHOOD!!

BuSy, BuSy, BuSy

So many things going on.....so little time.........

~First~

Caleb finally lost, not ONE tooth, but TWO!! And to my utter horror he already had his adult teeth growing in. Yikes! Luckily, my friend Lisa, who works at a dentist office, told me not worry and that they will straighten out.

~Second~
Beau has been busy with work, coaching Caleb's t-ball team, being a great dad, and celebrating his 33rd birthday!



I didn't get to write on here Happy Father's Day to him. But I hope he had a great one. He really is the WORLD'S BEST DAD!! He continually impresses me with his abilities to shut off work and just be home with his family. He is a dad who is loving, thoughtful, and one who HELPS out.
We love him so much and I am continually grateful the Lord let our paths cross and find each other. I cannot think of a better Father or husband!!

For his b-day we celebrated with my sister Hanna and her family and the Church family. We spent the day in the mountains. Then we came home and grilled on the bbq, ate cake and ice cream, and then went and played tennis!!

~Third~

We have had Two sets of company. My friend Lisa and her husband Drew were able to stop and spend a night with us. I hadn't seen her for over a year almost. It was nice to visit! (forgot to shoot some pictures)

And my sister Hanna, and her family came on Sunday and stayed a few days too! She is the second sister who got to see Lukas in person! We went day camping, site seeing, motorcycle riding (or putting I should say) , out to eat, and to a movie. Hanna and Chris taught us how to play tennis and I must say it is a new obsession!!

(Some pictures from our site seeing trip)
Cedar Breaks

Han and her GORG ( My new favorite word is Gorg..short for Gorgeous. I love shortening words!) family!!

Anna and her GORG family!

And of course my own GORG family!

Chris on the titanic!!


Chandler and Savanah

Finley (Isn't she gobble worthy?)


Thank you so much for coming! I cried when you guys left! Someday maybe we can convince you guys to MOVE HERE!!!:)

I can't believe summer is half way over before school starts! We have lots more fun things to come. So hopefully we can keep up with posting about them!!

Father's day gift ideas

Here are some cute ideas to do with your kiddos for Father's day!

(Perfect Gift Ideas for Dads, Uncles, Grandpa's & Bishops!)

(Plus you could make it tons cuter than this)

You'll need:

- chipboard (I got mine from a scrapbook store...they gave me whatever I needed for free)
- Big Hunk candy bar
- paint
- hole puncher
- yarn/string
- paper and sharpie marker

1. Cut the chipboard on a diagonal to make the tie longer. Cut to look like a tie.
2. Have child paint the chipboard however they'd like and let it dry completely.
3. I laminated the tie; however, you don't "need" to do this.
4. Punch two holes at the top for string or yarn.
5. Use the paper to write a saying like, "I'm someone's 'Big Hunk'". Or, "I'm my family's 'Big Hunk'"....or, "Grandpa is my 'Big Hunk'".
6. Place on tie with tape.

(courtesy of Sugardoodle.net)

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Or last year I did this

(Could be modified to say different things depending on number of child/ren)
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My sister-in-law is doing this

(Super cute)
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Check out Martha Stewart's page for directions on how to make these cute cards


If you have any other ideas I would love to hear them. My kids love to make projects for dad year round!!

Vacation

(Warning..long post)

I was so lucky to go with Beau up North for a vacation. He had some classes to take for work and I grabbed the kiddos and tagged along.

~Here is what we did~

Day 1~
Arrived late at hotel. Met up with my Mom. Slept!

Day 2~
While Beau was at work. My sister Alison and her three kids came to swim at the hotel with my mom and I.

It was so good to see my sister and my cute nieces and nephew. It had been awhile.

Then, we headed out to lunch to meet up with some family. I hadn't seen my grandparents, some of my cousins, and aunts in awhile. So it was really nice!


We shopped a little then unfortunately had to say goodbye to my mom. So the rest of the night I just hung out at the hotel and Beau took the kids swimming some more.

Day3-
Since I had to check out of the motel, the kids and I went shopping, hung out in the van, and waited until Beau got out of his class.


After we picked him up, we headed over to my cousin Shane and his wife Sara's house. They were so nice to let us stay with them and were perfect hosts!! Shane's parents and sister came over for dinner.
Yummy french dip sandwiches.


Thanks Sara and Shane!

Day 4~

We got up early and headed to Hoogle Zoo. Sara and her cute kiddos came with us too. Caleb kept calling Zach "little dude" and "little buddy" it was so cute! And Ella and Savanah loved playing with each other!

After the zoo Beau and I took the kids to Temple Square. We always love going there. We went through the visitor centers, the Joseph Smith house, and just lounged around on the temple grounds.
The gardens are so beautiful.
And of course, ya know me, thousands of pictures were taken!





To view more photog pictures of the temple click here!

Then we headed to my Aunt Bonnie's to stay the night. (Darn I forgot to take my camera in)

Day5~

We headed back towards home, but on the way stopped at Cove Fort to see the sites. I hadn't been there since I was seventeen.


I think sometimes in life we get so caught up with the "convenience" of everything. The Sister told us how Ira Hinckley's wife and others used every inch of everything they could. They would make mattresses out of a certain kind of fabric. When the mattress would thin out they would cut the mattress up and make pants for the men out of the fabric. When the pants wore out, they would use the same fabric and use it for patching or for quilting. When that wore out they would throw the fabric in the fire and use the Lye in the ashes to make soap!
WOW! Talk about wake up call!
It made me grateful for what we have but also feel guilty for how I am guilty of wasting.
I am so glad we stopped and enjoyed some of the rich history of our church.

Day 6~
Although we were home, we still wanted to utilize the last day we had together as a family before Beau had to go back to work. So we headed up the moutain for a picnic. We went to Blow hard and Deer Haven.



(To view more nature shots of our drive go here)
Deer Haven is another one of my favorite places to go to. The trees are so thick, everything is so green, there are many different kinds of wild flowers, and it is true to it's name. We saw five deer (two of which were babies) and one buck. We also saw rock chuck's the size of beavers. The things were huge.

All the kids were so good for our whole trip.
Lukas traveled so well.
He really is such a good baby.


We are sad that our vacation went so quickly. But it is good to be home and back into a routine. We can't wait for more fun family adventures this summer!

A blog in pictures

Here is a few pictures to show you a small glimpse of our Summer days~