Perfection

Today was almost perfect. Almost, because unfortunately Tyler has been at work all day, Tyler would have made it perfect. But it was close. To someone else looking in on my "stay-at-home mom" life, today wouldn't have seemed much different from any other day. But to me it was special. I had one of those moments mothers rave about with each one of my kiddos. The moments we try to explain to people who don't have children but it's just impossible to explain. You have to feel it to understand it. 

My day went like this:

Woke up and started my day with a conversation with my Heavenly Father.

Woke up the kids. Ate breakfast with them.

Dropped Parker off at school, got an extra hug and kiss before he ran off to the playground.

Came home and made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies with Rylan. She loved every second of it. 

Fed Noel several chocolate chips.

Watched Rylan lick the mixing paddle clean.

Sat on the couch with my girls. Sang songs with them as Noel sat on my lap. After a few songs she grabbed my hands, moved them aside and put her head on my chest, wrapping her arms around me for several minutes.

Picked Parker up and listened to him tell me about his walk-a-thon and new library book.

After lunch, the kids rode their bikes around the neighborhood while I pushed Noel in the stroller and attempted to control my parents puppy Nika on her leash. 

Along our way we collected pretty Fall leaves off the ground.

Made homemade chicken noodle soup for dinner.

Watched my kids devour it!

Spent 1/2 hour working on Parker's " family homework project". We all had so much fun.

Gave the kids a bath.

Climbed in bed with my fresh little babies and read books.  

Said our nighttime prayers.

Cuddled with all three at the same time. 

Talked to Parker about moving to our new house and about being a big boy. Got an extra hug and kiss.

And I even got to watch my show... Parenthood... After all my babies were asleep. 

For many, that was a very long list of nothing extraordinary. But to me, it was several little moments reminding me that I have the best job in the world.

Five years ago

Five years ago, my whole life changed. I met this beautiful little baby boy and as I held him for the first time, I felt his little soul next to mine and I knew I was different. Since then I have learned the joys and miseries of motherhood. I am still learning. Little things I never thought would bring so much happiness have become my favorite moments. On the other hand, little things that I never expected to hurt so badly have brought me to my knees. But only when we experience those lows can we truly appreciate the heights of the mountains of blessings on which we stand. 

Thank you Parker, for changing my life. I'm not so sure I'm ready to send you off into this big scary world just yet. I know the next five years will be filled with just as many adventures as the last five. 

Temples

A couple weeks ago, on a Monday night, I was sulking after a long, stressful disappointing and frustrating day. I had planned a little Family Home Evening trip to the temple and, after plucking several thousand corn kernels I had spilled all over the carpeted dining room at dinner, I was not sure I was still up for the 30 minute drive over to the Boise Temple. But we went. Our kids were encouraged in primary to ask their parents to take them to touch the temple. My kids were very excited.

We got there and suddenly I was reminded of the fact that the temple is closed Mondays. The big beautiful gates that surrounded the grounds were closed and locked. I shrunk down even more into my depressed state and thought of what a fail this day was shaping up to be. Tyler found a parking spot at the stake center next door and I pulled myself together, slumped out if the car, turned to face my family and bam. There they were. The most beautiful little family I had ever wished for, standing in front of the beautiful backdrop of the temple. And then I remembered that all of this was mine. All mine. Forever. And ever. And no bad day could take this treasure from me.

Tyler and I were married in that temple. And we know that no matter what this life brings, we will be together, with our children, for eternity. That is power that no person, distance, disappointment, tragedy, Supreme Court decision, or any other obstacle can take away from me. That is the power of God.

I was sure glad we got out of that car and took pictures, even if it was outside the grounds. There is no other place on Earth that serves such high purposes. You should come find out for yourself.

Forever.

108*

Today was 108*.....

108*!

So what do we do in 108* weather?

Snow cones and fountains obviously!

These three are little bottles of sunshine. Love them.

Where I Live

For the last several months we have been battling with the very long process of finding the perfect house for our family to call home. The only thing we knew was that this quaint,  two bedroom condo was not it. We have a long list of of evidence to back that statement with as well. But what a struggle it has been. We would start down one path just long enough to get excited and start to make plans only to hit a dead end and have to go back to the beginning. It was stressful to say the least. But for me it was a little heart wrenching at times. I've been wishing for that perfect home. The one with toys littering the grassy backyard. The kitchen that was actually big enough for the kids and I to be able to stand around the mixer together and watch it swirl around the chocolate chip cookie dough. The house that had room for visitors who didn't want to spend money on hotels. The one with lots of neighborhood kids helping themselves to your front yard and your food and even your bathroom. You know, that house! Not this one! Not this tiny, cramped, boring box we've been counting the days to leave.

 But I have realized something. In addition to the long list of negatives we've made up while living here, there is a much longer list of things I love about this tiny, cramped, boring box. I love that we can't escape each other. You can hear each other from opposite ends of the house. I love that when I'm in bed I can hear my kids breathing in their room next door. I love blowing bubbles and eating Popsicles on the balcony. I love my kids scooting chairs up to the kitchen counters to sneak treats out of the cupboards. I love dancing in the living room after family home evening. I love that my kids ask to go outside every time they hear our neighbor step outside for a smoke, just so they can visit with him and tell him all about their day. I love that he loves to listen and says it makes his day every day. I love movie nights where we all pile on the living room floor. I love movie nights where we all pile in mommy and daddy's bed. I love when my kids press their little noses on the window to watch the garbage truck every Tuesday. I love that Tyler's office is a three minute drive away and we can visit whenever we feel like it and he can do the same. I love that we can walk to downtown and play in the fountains and eat snow cones.

See, there are a lot of things to like about this silly condo. Because it's not really the house that makes a home. It's the people inside and the memories you make with them. The feelings you share and the Spirit that envelopes you every time you walk in. I might just miss it. But I'm sure glad that no matter where I live, I will always have my home with me.

Twenty Seven

I am a little embarrassed that I just had to do the math again in my head and on my fingers to make sure that I am, in fact, turning twenty seven tomorrow. And I am. What a great blessing it has been to be on this Earth for 27 years! If you had asked me when I was younger where I thought I would be on the eve of my 27th birthday, I'd imagine it would be quite similar to where I am right this second. It probably would have sounded kind of like this:

At 27 I imagine myself very happily married. The kind of happy that is there even on my worst days, just because I have him. Most likely with some kids, who knows how many, as many as God feels I am capable of taking care if at 27 years old. I'd probably spend my days loving, teaching, encouraging, scolding, playing with, comforting and cuddling these tiny monsters who look up at me with big blue eyes and their daddy's smile. At night, before crawling into bed with my very favorite person in the world and laughing about the day's little moments with him, I would probably have to put the monsters to bed. Which entails laying in their room, listening to their made up jokes, tucking them in and kissing them to pieces, and holding their chubby little hands while they whisper, "Mom, I love you with all my heart." 

Yep. 27. Sounds pretty scary.

Yikes!

Wow, almost five months have come and gone since the last time I even laid eyes upon my own blog. Sad, isn't it? Not really because I have been busy, and busy is good because it means I'm living, right? And I have four extremely time-consuming blessings to thank for that.

There have been numerous times I have thought to myself, " I need to put that on the blog." But somehow those thoughts are quickly overturned by something important. I think blogging is important, especially as it is my journal, however blogging does not even rank on an importance scale to a child who really wants to go to the park or needs a band-aid or really, really needs some chocolate milk, right now, or they might die of thirst! My kids are kind of dramatic like that.

Another reason for the lack of blogging is that I have been a little worried about privacy issues. I've been getting a lot of random comments from strange names and thought maybe going private is the way to go. But I really like the fact that strangers can read about my faith on here, I feel like its a simple way to be a missionary. Any thoughts? Besides, I'm pretty sure no one would read my blog if it was private. Not sure anyone does anyway :)

I have a lot to say but it's a little hard to play catch up at this point, so for now I will just say that life goes on and it is great! And I hope to be back much sooner this time around!