In Orbit

Today I sat on the couch and watched as the children ran up and down the hall.

The pounding of their feet and the sound of their laughter was like music for my soul.

I noticed again how tall Gage is getting. 

I think how he probably won't play like this for too much longer. 

He is slightly gawky and his teeth tell me is about seven years old. 

He will need braces for sure.

I noticed how Luke watches out for Claire.

He loves being an older brother.

I can still see traces of the baby I held over 4 years ago. 

I hope it doesn't disappear too soon. 

Claire runs for me with arms outstretched.

I smile to think it is to me she runs to share her joy or pain. 

I notice how fast her chubby legs can run.

Her hair fans out like two wings and I think I've never seen anything more charming.  

I try to look into the future.

I wonder who these sweet babies will become. 

I picture myself as the sun.

Stationary and watching the unique and beautiful planets that are in orbit around me. 

I wonder if Gage will become an Apostle? 

Was I as interested in the scriptures as he is when I was seven?  

I don't think so. 

He was born knowing right from wrong and wanting to do the right.      

I try to picture Luke as a doctor. 

That's what he says he will be. 

He is certainly patient and smart enough to be one. 

I better start saving my money. 

For now, all I can picture for Claire is my baby girl. 

My saving grace. 

I wonder if she will call me friend when she is grown?

The Beauty of Motherhood

My mom always gave me a book about motherhood or womanhood for mother's day.  It is so funny the things you miss when someone you love dies.  Something that I took for granted and was so simple made my heart ache knowing she wouldn't be giving me one this year. 

I was visiting my dad when I found an old book from the 60's on my mom's bookshelf.  I've looked at the bookshelf many times and never seen this book.  The title is The Beauty of Motherhood and the artwork is so gorgeous.  Dad let me borrow it and in a way I got my mother's day book from my mom. 

Once I started reading it I realized where it had come from and why I hadn't seen it before.  See, when I opened it up I saw some passages that were underlined in a red pencil and the lines were so straight that the person made them with a ruler.  I instantly knew that this book belonged to Grandma Charlotte.  Red pencil and ruler precision is Grandma's hallmark.  My mom must have gotten it when she passed away in October 2010.

One such red line was from "The Teacher" and it is so quintessential Grandma Charlotte and Grandma Paulette that it made me smile. 

"Into the woman's keeping is committed the destiny of the generations to come after us.  In bringing up your children you mother's must remember that while it is essential to be loving and tender it is no less essential to be wise and firm.  Foolishness and affection must not be treated as interchangeable terms... Teach boys and girls alike that they are not to look forward to lives spent in avoiding difficulties; teach them that work, for themselves and for others, is not a curse but a blessing; seek to make them happy, to make them enjoy life, but seek also to make them face life with steadfast resolution, and to do their whole duty before God and man..." ~Theodore Roosevelt    

I have heard advice such as this many times from Grandma and my mom.  I'm so thankful to have had such wonderful examples of a Wise Mother to look up to for as long as I did.  I hope that I don't disappoint them as I try to raise my own family without their sound advice.    

An Entire Decade....

is how long Tim has put up with me!  We have been married for 10  years.  We celebrated by having a Staycation last weekend.  That is a cheap parent's version of a weekend getaway for their anniversary.  Tim's mom had the kids overnight and we stayed at home and went to dinner and stayed up late watching Harry Potter.  Tim slept in until 10 am!  Lucky him.  My kid alarm went off at 7:30 am. 

Through the ups and downs of life my Timmy is a constant.  I love him dearly.   

Our anniversary was during the week and I woke up to see that Tim had left me flowers.  He's a keeper!

Love These Girls

Rachel and girls came down last week and visited before they were off to Moab for a friend's wedding.  I love seeing her girls.  They always keep things interesting!

Luke and Piper contemplating the mysteries of life......

Feeding the Duck.   Ahem, ok, the Seagulls.. .....

Luke and Piper thought my van was dirty so they cleaned it with wipes.....

Too cute. 

Easter Happenings

This is the dreaded "update" post.  Painful but they have to be done!  The kids had a great Easter.  We had a neighborhood Easter Egg Hunt that Claire and Luke went to while Gage had his swimming lessons....

...this was Claire's first egg hunt that she knew what was going on.  She yelled, "EGG!!!" for days after. 

We also had the Traditional Easter Egg Hunt with my family.  While our numbers have grown smaller over the years my Dad and Aunt Pammy are so nice to keep fighting the good fight for my little ones.  The kids leave with far too much candy and big smiles on their faces!

Grandpa helping out Lukey...

There was one of them smiling but I can't figure out how to delete this one....

Gage had this awesome hound dog routine to find eggs....

By this Easter Egg Hung Claire had it down......

I love getting the kids dressed up for Easter.  I hate trying to capture their pictures in their new digs because they are rotten children who never do what I want while trying to take a picture.  This is sadly the best one.

Easter held a new meaning for me this year.  My testimony of the Risen Christ has never felt so personal and so desperate at the same time.  I guess since I'm 31 it was about time that I started to really ponder the resurrection and what it means to me.