Friend

I have a fabulous friend named Stephanie. We became reacquainted in Minnesota (after having known one another in college, but lost touch for 5 years). I loved being with Stephanie because she adores her children and savors time with them. Most of us adore our children, but Stephanie really, really enjoys being with them. I remember talking to her one day and she mentioned that her husband had been working the previous night and she wanted to watch a movie, but didn't want to watch alone. So she let her two little ones stay up and they watched Mary Poppins. It had never occured to me to 'hang out' with my children like that. But it occurs to me now, thanks to Steph! We went on many, many adventures together with our children in tow. Oxbow zoo, the nature center, apple orchards in autumn, children's museum in Minneapolis, lots of picnics at the park and slip 'n' slides in our backyards. We were never in a hurry...we just noticed the roses and watched the clouds roll by. We did a co-op preschool two or three different times and I was always so happy my children were able to be around her loving influence. Steph always made me feel like a better person and a better mother. We had so much fun together creating memories with our children. We were REALLY WITH our children, listening to them, dreaming with them and laughing with them. I'm so thankful for Stephanie's friendship and her lasting influence on my mothering. I will always long for carefree days (before our children started school) full of exciting adventures, but I'm so grateful for the memories we made together.

Update

We had Wes's brother Tyler take some family picts for us. It was long overdue, since getting the fam ready for pictures in one of my least favorite things to do. The shots were fabulous and I'm glad not to have to do that again for a while!

I ran the crazy Ragnar Wasatch Back relay race in June. It took our team 36 hours! It was really quite the par-tay, and so much fun to run with my dear sister, Amy.

Another family picture that I love!

These three girls are peas in a pod, especially Ivie and Norah. Ivie pretty much ceases to exist unless she is with another human being (yeah, she's social), so Norah has become her side-kick. Ivie is so attentive and sweet with Jane and is always packing her around and giving her loves. I'm thankful for a responsible, sweet oldest daughter!

Doesn't every boy look forward to his first pinewood derby? Caleb worked so hard on his car, designing it, cutting, sanding, painting, and figuring how much weight to add to increase it's speed. When his car cruised past all the others, he couldn't contain his excitement! It was a boost he needed and really fun to see him so happy.

The 3 year old birthday has been one of the best with all of my children. It is the first birthday that they are old enough to really, really be excited and understand what's going on. Norah was the sweetest three year old and got to celebrate with three parties: one at our home with grandma and grandpa M, one at grandma and grandpa S's with mini cupcakes on her new mini tea set, and another at the Argyles (well, it was really for Emma, but they let Norah feel like it was for her too.)

I just love this picture. It shows perfectly what a creative leader Ivie has become. They were "playing the piano" on the stools, even though we have the real thing in the next room!

Adding compost to our garden. It made me happy to see my family all working happily together.

One of Jane's most distinguishing features is her hair. It has become really curly, and is always crazy, crazy, crazy! But I love it so much and I love this girl so much!

Other things of note:
Wes and I went to Washington DC for a conference. While he was in meetings, I toured some of the cool places there. A highlight for me was seeing a REAL painting by Leonardo di Vinci. Turns out I really like art museums! Hours after visiting the White House, it was announced that a certain terrorist had kicked the bucket by force...and we could hear the happy cheers of the crowd in front of the White House from our hotel. Spending time with my best friend, uninterrupted was fabulous. I could get used to that!

I still haven't figured out how to manage the laundry in our house.

Caleb started violin lessons again, and Ivie started piano. I hired traveling teachers that come to MY HOUSE. It is heavenly, and pretty cool to hear my children create music too!

Wes is officially a partner in his group after a 2 year buy-in.

We did some landscaping in our front yard and built a sandbox in the back (that the kids get SO dirty in, but that is absolutely so fun!)

I'm so thankful for the words "I'm Sorry." It seems I'm using them every day as I learn how to be a mother. I get rather tired of messing up, but glad my children forgive me. In the midst of it all, I love, love being a mother and really try to relish the time I have with my little ones (between dishes, laundry, and wiping little bums).
That's it.

Hot Peppers

This picture has nothing to do with the following story, except that Jane is the main character...


It was a perfect autumn day. The sky was clear and blue, the air chilly but the sun was warm. Wes came home and suggested that we throw all caution to the wind and enjoy the beautiful weather. We ditched Ivie's choir practice and headed up the canyon for a hike, which was wonderful even though Jane screamed much of the time.

Since we were throwing all caution to the wind, we decided to try out a new pizza place in town. Jack's Wood-Fired Pizza. Wes and I ordered "The Chuckwagon" topped with bbq pork, fresh pineapple and jalapenos. I'm not a jalpeno kind of gal so I picked them off and left them on my plate. Well, when I didn't notice, 9 month old Jane snatched one of those hot peppers off my plate and popped it in her mouth. She promptly started crying and crying and when I finally looked down at her, I saw that her face was bright red. "That's weird," I thought. After trying to console her for a few minutes Ivie finally noticed that there was something in her mouth. After fingering the jalapeno out, I figured why she was screaming and bright red! I immediately gave her lots and lots of rootbeer to douse her flaming mouth, all the while laughing at such a funny series of events! Poor baby.

I'm Such a Good Mom

You know the saying, "Don't cry over spilt milk?" Well, I didn't cry, I threw an outright fit. When Norah knocked over her cup of milk with her elbow yesterday, I grabbed my hair in my hands and jumped and stomped all over the kitchen. I had wiped up one too many milk spills in the last few days. Look at the example my children have to follow! Scary.

Well, I did spend a good amount of time with Norah rescuing worms on our patio after a big rainstorm. She would point them out to me and I'd pick them up and chuck them onto the grass where they could resume their existence eating dirt. Doesn't that make me a good mom? Does the worm rescue make up for the fit I threw over spilt milk?

HUMMM. Here's to hoping my children turn out.

8 Months

Jane is almost 8 months. What in the world? But I'm always happy when my babies reach this age because this age is SO STINKIN' CUTE! Jane is a humming, grabbing, kicking, arm- flapping, kissable, stationary chubby package of absolute yumminess.

I've decided that babies create a safe, peaceful haven in my life. Much of the day I have my to-do list on my mind and get ansy to check things off, but I'm always able to put the to-do's aside during the minutes and hours spent rocking and cuddling with my babies. It is theraputic to let everything else go for a moment (many times a day) while I nurture my baby and myself in the rocking chair. I love it and will miss it when it's gone. I wonder if I'll be one of those mothers that rocks their last baby until age 10...

Blessed Jane

Babies all in white are extra beautiful.
Jane was given a special blessing by her father on June 6. We were surrounded by loving family that came to celebrate Jane. It was a wonderful day.

Each of my girls have a special blessing gown. Ivie wore my blessing dress and I made both Norah and Jane's gowns. It is delightful to create something meaningful and beautiful.

To the father of my children,

Happy Father's Day! I love you so much. I love you for the father you are to our children, I love you for the husband you are to me. You have embraced each of these callings with all of your heart, even when your back is aching or you had a hard day at work. You keep up a smile and rarely complain.

I love how you often read poetry before drifting off to sleep, how you make me laugh at your silly little sayings. You have sound judgement, a strong work ethic and a boisterous sense of humor. I love your smarts that you have worked so hard to gain. I feel well cared-for in your capable arms.

Thank you for building a home with me and for the constant dedication you show for me and our children. Thank you for working long and hard to provide for us. You sacrificed many years to get us to this point. Thank you for loving me.

Love,
Your dutiful wife and mother of your children