and......WE"RE OFF!!

The van is loaded and we are ready to go. We have about an 18 hour car ride ahead of us before we get to our destination....Cedar City Utah!

I have trained for the 10K I will be running in now for eight weeks! The race isn't until the day before we leave to come home so I will have two more weeks of running in the hot desert, wish me luck! Stay tuned for some fun pictures.

See you in 2 1/2 weeks!

Wheeee.....!!!

While I was looking through these pictures that I took at the park today I realized something. I realized that almost every year for the past four years I have brought a new child with me to the park. Now that's impressive! This year it is Kai's first experience at the park. Last summer it was just Evan and Paden, the summer before that Evan was a newborn and it was his first experience at the park, and the summer before that there was just my little one year old Paden!

I remember when Robby and I were first married...he wanted to start a family right away and he wanted A LOT of kids. I had different plans. I told Robby that I wasn't even going to talk about having kids until we had been married for five years and then AFTER those five years we would decide how many more years we would continue to wait! Within a few months something changed! I'm not really sure why and what happened that made me change my mind (I know it involved the Spirit) but there was a drastic change in my heart. I went from wanting only a couple of kids to wanting to be the mom to eight children and I knew that we could do it, even with all the schooling Robby had ahead of him, I felt peace that we could do it. As you can imagine Robby was pretty excited about that and wanted to get started right away!! (wink wink)

Anyways, my plans continue to change by the day. Some days I feel like I could handle having eight children and imagine my kids being grown and watching them in this young stage of their life raising their families. Other days I say I'm done...no more! I think it will probably be somewhere in the middle. The good thing is that I didn't wait! I get to experience true joy on a daily basis even with the busiest two year old in the world and even when I am sick every day that I'm pregnant (no I'm not pregnant right now) and even when others wonder how we manage and disagree with our choice. Heavenly Father makes up the difference.

There's a scripture that I think about often almost on a daily basis it says, "And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions." The miracle is that even when things are hard somehow they aren't that hard. It is actually a blessing having to rely so heavily upon the Lord because we can clearly see how the Lord is blessing us and we are SO grateful for what we do receive. Best of all there is incredible growth and strength that comes from knowing how much we need the Lord and moving forward with faith.

Who knew being a mom was so great?!

Preschool Celebration

The picture above is Paden's first day of preschool taken last September, isn't he so cute! It is amazing the progress Paden has made in 9 months. On the first day of school I remember feeling concerned that Paden was behind the other kids since he wasn't able to write his name and because he was easily distracted and he was the one kid in circle time that had the hardest time concentrating. Nine months later, Paden can now write his entire name and recognizes it! Paden has gotten much better at counting and recognizing numbers and has even gotten better during circle time. I know that Paden is ready for Kindergarten and the good thing is he still has one more year of Preschool left!

One of my favorite stories about Paden was on his first day of school at Miss Mimi's when all the other kids were sitting down during snack time eating Paden just sat there and watched. When snack time was almost over Miss Mimi asked Paden why he wasn't eating. Paden sweetly said that he was waiting to say the prayer! So, Miss Mimi let him say the prayer and then he ate his entire snack and from that day on they say a prayer at snack time.

































Today was Paden's last day of Preschool! For the end of school celebration Miss Mimi had all the families get together for a fun lunch and a small program. There are three other kids in Paden's class...two boys and two girls. For some reason the girls decided they were too cool to sing any of the songs or poems, so the boys and Miss Mimi put on a little show for us.





































































Here they are singing, "I'm a little teapot"..this was my favorite!
























































Miss Mimi and Paden singing, "I can sing a rainbow" together!




























Before we all left, Miss Mimi presented each of the kids with a special award. Paden was given the award for "best conversationalist". When Paden first started going to school he was extremely shy and wouldn't talk very much but now he follows Miss Mimi around everywhere talking her ear off! Miss Mimi also said that he was the most improved of all the kids. Good job Paden! Another thing Paden was given was a silhouette that Miss Mimi made for each of the kids. Everyone got a good laugh at Paden's! Check out the hair!!

























I love this picture of Paden he didn't want to stop looking at himself!




















Thanks Miss Mimi you are the Best! See you next year!

Memorial Day

For Memorial Day we went to our friends house and had our annual BBQ. I don't think our friends were planning on having it this year until we asked about what time we should show up! I brought along a potato salad and a chocolate sheet cake. I'm not a big fan of potato salad with hard boiled eggs so I found a recipe by "The Barefoot Contessa" (she's my favorite) and tried it out. I thought the potato salad was really good and would definitely make it again but I don't think it was a big hit with everyone else since hardly any of it was gone...too bad for them! The chocolate sheet cake I made I found on a blog called, "The Pioneer Woman" it was really good and almost entirely eaten up...I will be making that one again too!
The BBQ was really fun we hung out with a bunch of our other really good friends and talked and let our kids play together. Thanks for the fun party...see you next year!

Take a guess at what these two guys were talking about right here:

a. ultimate fighting

b. basketball

c. wrestling

d. all of the above

It feels like summer!

Today it felt like a real summer day. We spent most of the day playing together outside in the sun, the sidewalk was constantly busy with people walking to and from the park on the lake and we ate our first big sticks of the season!

If there is one thing you can count on constantly being in our house during the summer it is these big sticks. My boys love them and they remind me of my ghetto days growing up in Las Vegas! The only difference is that a scary "candy man" driving in a suspicious ice cream truck doesn't deliver them to me anymore. Ahhhh....I miss that guy.

Robby and I played horse shoes together while the boys watched. Paden and Evan were so funny cheering me on the entire time, they really wanted their mom to win! Paden would say, "dad you lose" or "dad time out" and then Evan would copy everything Paden would say! I love having kids they make me feel so good about myself! I did win the first game but then lost the next two.

I LOVE being married to a man who is always happy, who is never in a bad mood or snaps at me or acts out in any type of weird negative behavior. If you know Robby you probably know he is always ready to play and have a party. You probably know he is a kind friend, he can make you feel at ease when he's around AND you will always have a good time. It may invole some type of wrestling but you'll still have fun! You probably know he loves his children, loves being with them and doesn't consider it "babysitting". You also probably know he is sweet and kind to me no matter what. It is such a blessing to have Robby in my life. I have been so spoiled.

I also LOVE living here in Bellingham! Bellingham is the most perfect beautiful place in the world! Can you tell the sun makes me extra happy?!

Yesterday

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny Friday. We spent the entire day outside and when we came inside in the evening I didn't realize how sunny it was until I started feeling a sunburn...ouch!

In the early afternoon I packed a little snack and brought it outside so we could have a fun picnic together...Paden, Evan Kai and I. While we were sitting together enjoying our cheese and summer sausage on crackers my mom and dad drove up. As soon as Paden and Evan saw Grandma coming they jumped up and ran to her as fast as possible. Later on while we were all sitting on the blanket together I asked Paden and Evan if they loved Grandma or Grandpa more. They both quickly said they loved Grandma, Evan even looked straight at Grandpa and with a mean look on his face yelled that he loved Grandma. I think he just wanted to make it perfectly clear who he loved the most!! Poor Grandpa.

When my mom and dad were getting ready to leave for their boat they kindly took Paden along with them, I stayed back to put Evan and Kai down for their naps. As soon as Robby got home from work we headed down to the Squalicum Harbor to meet up with my parents for dinner at one of the yummiest places to eat here in Bellingham called Weblockers and then we roller bladed along the path and played some more.

Here are some pictures of our fun day in the sun...

Squalicum Harbor

May's Books

For the month of May I read three very different books but all really good and all three I would highly recommend reading. The first book is called, "Daughters of God" by M. Russell Ballard (a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles). Daughters of God is a very short and extremely easy book to read. There are only 65 pages and would be the perfect book to give as a gift to any woman in any stage of her life. This book talks about the importance of mothers, motherhood, and womanhood.








The second book I read is called, "Contentment" by Maria Covey Cole and is directed towards mothers. This book was really really good, all mothers should own this book whether you are caring for young children or teenagers, it is perfect! Contentment "discusses the importance of gaining perspective on motherhood, shunning comparisons with others, and allowing our natures to be changed through the grace of Christ." Go out and buy this book, it is one of the best books I've read on motherhood.

The third and my favorite book I read during the month of May was this book, "Our Savior Jesus Christ" by David J. Ridges. I don't think I could tell you how much I LOVED reading this. David Ridges is the same author that wrote the scripture helps made easier which many people are familiar with. This book was not written expressing the authors personal feelings or thoughts but on scriptural facts. While reading this book I gained a better understanding of the Savior's life, Atonement and love He has for each of us. Go and buy this book if you want to draw closer to the Savior.

If you mention my blog you can receive 20% off on any of these items at CTR Books and Gifts!!

Feel the Burn

I am officially a "runner"
When I first began running 6 weeks ago to prepare for the race I'm running in I did not think I was a "runner" whatsoever. I could barely run a mile and was completely exhausted and sore it felt like torture. Now I am up to 5 miles and even though it is still hard I am loving it and even look forward to my runs at the track and on the trails.
Here's the crazy thing...I'm running 5 days a week I don't eat after 5pm I have cut down on my portion sizes and really cut down on the amount of sweets I was eating and still haven't lost a single pound! What's going on?!!
The good news is I feel great, my legs are more toned and I could even run the 10k today. I am even looking forward to more races! Today I looked up half marathons and full marathons in Hawaii. I figure if I train and do something like running in a marathon (a once in a lifetime thing) I should at least do it while on vacation. Anyone want to join me? I need a running buddy.

I was sitting on the bed feeding Kai and Paden was jumping next to me with his sword acting like a ninja killing pretend "bad guys". Then he stopped and said to me, "do you want to follow Jesus' ways?" I said, "Yes I do. I want to follow Jesus' ways." Paden then said, "Me too mom. I want to follow Jesus' ways too. I don't want to be a bad guy."

What a sweet little boy/ninja/super hero I have!

Isn't he delicious!

I sat Kai right next to me in his own chair. I looked away for only a few seconds and when I looked back this is what i saw! I guess my little Evan had left a strawberry on the seat, Kai found it and helped himself to his very first strawberry.
What do you think did he enjoy it?!!

Look at my little fish

For Family Night we decided to go down to the Aquatic Center and let the boys have fun in the little kiddie pool. Paden ran right in grabbed the toy boats and entertained himself the entire time. Evan was a little nervous at first after he got used to the water it then bored him and he started getting in trouble. He was splashing the other babies, taking their toys and trying to run away. That's my Evan! Kai was the most adorable of my three fish. He absolutely loved the water probably because he was born in the water. He had a huge smile on his face almost the entire time. Kai was splashing his little arms and kicking his cute little legs around.
I think we will be coming back!

It's a bird, It's a plane, It's a...

...Plasma Car!

This thing is awesome. My mom and dad got this for Paden's birthday and I have been on it non stop! On Saturday Amber and I took this down to the bike lane in front of our house. Everyone was jealous of us, you should have heard all the hootin and hollarin and honkin going on!

















































Oh yeah. Don't you wish you could look this cool?

thanks Miss Mimi

I love this picture that Miss Mimi took of Paden! He's reading the Spider man book that she gave to him and you can see how interested he is in it...he has no idea someone is taking his picture! Thanks Miss Mimi...Paden and Evan read it every day.

My Mother's Day

Yesterday was a pretty emotionally exhausting day. Not because of my sweet babies but because I was asked to speak in Church on being a young mother! The last week for me was super busy and really hard and with having to speak in Church that pretty much made it the worst week ever.

I don't think there is anything more impossible then trying to put into words the amount of love I have for my kids, how much I love this stage in my life and how the gospel and my testimony has helped me as a young mom. It's especially hard to do speaking in front of a large group of people with your stomach all tied in knots and being really painfully engorged (that's a different story and all part of my crazy week). But it's all over. This is a new week and I still love being a mom!

I am so eternally grateful for my sweet Mom. She is the best example of what a mom should be and I love her even more now that I have my own kids and know the type of love a mom has for her children. I am also more in love with her because she loves my own children. Robby was changing Evan's diaper yesterday at my mom and dad's house and Evan began screaming out for help yelling GRANDMA GRANDMA! I also love how Paden and Evan follow her around everywhere she goes talking her ear off. They love their grandma so much and are the luckiest boys to be able to call HER grandma.

I love the sweet moments I have every day in between the cleaning, cooking, laundry and all the other stuff that keeps us moms busy. Paden said to me last night before he went to bed..."mom I don't want you to be an angel and fly away. I would miss my mommy so much." It's those sweet moments that are truly the absolute best thing about being a mom. On Saturday the weather was nice so I took the boys outside to play and I sat down and watched them while I tried to figure out what I was going to speak on. After a few minutes I decided I NEEDED to play with my boys so I put my roller blades ( yes I own roller blades) on and played with them. That night when Robby got home from work he knew of how terrible my week had been so he took the boys to Haggens and then came home with all the ingredients to make the best steak dinner ever and some pretty yummy cupcakes too. I love my husband.

On Sunday we went to my parents house for dinner where they had prepared a huge meal which included more steak (almost as good as the one I had the night before) and more cake. What will I do when I have to prepare my own Sunday dinners?!!
Happy Mother's Day to you all!






















































































My mom and dad got this for Paden for his birthday. He really hasn't been able to enjoy it since Robby and I have been on it non stop.
Who's that crazy person in a skirt?!!

1-2-3-4!

I can't believe it Paden, my oldest little boy turned 4 last Thursday.
Paden is such a sweet boy. He is helpful, kind, sensitive and the most wonderful child a mom could ask for. I have grown up with him. The day before I turned 22 I gave birth to him at home and was amazed how much I could love someone so intensely and so instantly. It was the most wonderful experience I had had up to that point in my life. He brought so much joy into our home and he could make anyone want to be a mom. I love him so much!

On Thursday morning he got in bed with me and I told him that it was his birthday. He got so excited he said "it is...today?! I told him all about the day he was born. He was so interested and loved listening to what I had to say. His birthday was celebrated really quietly, it was actually really nice not to have to worry about having a party or anything else we just did whatever he wanted that day. After we had breakfast Robby got out his "big wheel" and put it together for him. Unfortunately, we had to take it back because there were some issues with it but it didn't seem to bother Paden. That's just how Paden is an easy going type of guy!

For lunch Paden said that he wanted to eat "Pho" his absolute favorite meal in the world! How many kids would choose to eat "pho" for their birthdays! He's such a funny boy. Here are some pictures of Robby giving "High fives" to Paden and Evan.

"up high"

"down low"

"too slow"

"too slow"

"too slow"

My cute little "Kai guy!"

After we ate lunch we let Paden pick out his very own birthday cake. He looked at all the different cakes even the animated ones but he knew what he wanted and so we got him the chocolatiest cake they had!

Evan and Kai were both taking their naps while we sang Happy Birthday and ate cake. All three of us sat down at the table together and talked. It was really nice to spend so much quiet time with Paden on his birthday. Afterwards we played games and had a good old time!

preschool cupcakes

Paden and I made cupcakes to celebrate his 4th birthday and to share with the kids in his preschool class. I have so much fun baking with Paden because he is so clean and wants to do everything just right! I want to keep him this age forever.
AND, why is rainbow chip cake mix and frosting so addicting? I think I ate four of these in one day, maybe that's the reason I can't lose any weight?!!
I think these cupcakes were a hit in class. Chloe Ellis' mom said that her daughter said after eating one, "I want those exact same cupcakes with the exact same candy on it for my birthday." I think Paden was the most popular boy in school today! Thank you Miss Mimi for the Spiderman book. Paden was so excited to tell me all about it when he got home and we've only read it a kumjillion times! You are the best.

Try a storage bin...

....if your baby is crying and you don't know what else to do!
It also gives the other kids something to be entertained by but just be sure the lid is put away somewhere high!

Check out these wicked moves!

Don't be jealous!!

Elder York

Last Sunday David was set apart as a missionary. All of us went to my parents ward my Dad got up during fast and testimony meeting and shared a really sweet testimony. After Sacrament Meeting we went into a quiet room where our Stk. President gave David a blessing and set him apart. Afterwards we came to my parents house for brunch and to say our last goodbyes to David they left right after for Utah and for the MTC.

Before we said goodbye all of us and some of Davids close friends sat together in the living room. We were all talking and having a good time and then it turned into a little testimony meeting we ended up sharing our feelings for David and his choice of going to serve a mission, the Spirit was really strong and it was the perfect way to say goodbye. Well, almost...we got a little silly of course and that was the perfect way to say goodbye!

I really love my younger brother David so much we have a close relationship and I feel a strong connection to him. I am so proud of him and the person he is. I will miss him immensely and already do. I can't wait to hear about the experiences he will have through letters and emails and I am excited to see the man he will become when he returns home.

under an apple tree...

...is where we spent our Friday!

David came over and spent the day with us he played make believe with Paden they walked, jumped, and ran around the yard looking for some type of "bad guy" then he told all three of them stories for about an hour it was really sweet to see all of them laying on the yellow blanket together. They love their Uncle David so much especially Evan yells at him all the time, "c'mon david, David, DAVID, DAAAAVIIIIID, C'MON!!??" Evan is such a crazy boy.
Later on during the day all of the guys in our family including Robby, Jonathon, David, and Dad all went and watched the new Wolverine movie....male bonding!

Mommy's little Helpers???

Every single time I get ready to mop the kitchen floor the boys come running and try to help. So, the other day I decided to give in and this was the result!!
Paden was really good he would look for a dirty spot on the floor and wash it clean. Evan just wanted to play in the bubbles and dump as much water onto the floor as he could. It started out okay and then it turned into them washing EVERYTHING...the floor, walls, cabinets, windows, and even each other but at least they had fun! After they were finished I had to strip them down and put them in the shower.

Some people like to use little mops or swiffers to mop their floors but not at my house. I need to get on my hands and knees and scrub. Maybe one day my floor will be clean enough to only have to use a little swiffer but it's definetly not during this time of my life.