{Merry Christmas}

{Happy Mother's Day}

 

In this last General Conference, Elder Packer said, "One of the great discoveries of parenthood is that we learn far more about what really matters from our children than we ever did from our parents." I was taught so many things by my wonderful mother, but it's true, there are some things I can only learn from my children. I'm thankful for the lessons they teach me.

In honor of Mother's day, I made a goal this week to get a picture of me with each of my children. So, I broke out the tripod and used the self timer. For each child I chose to photograph an activity that we do often together. These images are not necessarily moments of fabulous photography, but are moments of heart for sure. I'm so very grateful for all the loving, teaching, and helping moments with my children.

So, this morning, after I was served a yummy breakfast of course, I hurried to get everyone ready for church. I had one more picture in mind and I really wanted to make it happen, but honestly, what were the chances. Jake had early meetings, so we were talking about a tripod, a self timer, five minutes, and five semi cooperative kids here. But, I was lucky, magic happened and I got a picture of me with all five of my wonderful children. Happy Mother's Day to me!!

{One}

Her first year has gone by far too quickly and it's a little heartbreaking, but we love, love, love this girl!

{Happy ♥ Day}

{Merry Christmas}

{Here We Are to Trick or Treat}

And one of my littlest witch...

{Love}

Today we're celebrating twelve wonderful years of love.

{Bloom Where You're Planted}

This was the view from my front window a couple of weeks ago. It seems that lately we can only stay in one place for about 2 years . . . so yes we moved again this summer. We have decided for Jake to have his own endodontic practice in the Raleigh North Carolina area and we're BUSY getting ready to open later next month along with everything else. (I don't recommend having baby number 5, moving and starting a business all about the same time.) We are still renting and will likely move again to our very own home in a year or two, but at least we know we will be in this area for a very long time. I'm so glad, because moving is not fun. My dad tells me the paper in his address book is getting thin because he's had to erase and change our address so many times!

Due to our move and some complaints from the kids and well okay a few from me too, I decided to give our family home evening lesson on blooming where we're planted. It was based loosely on an article in the June Ensign which talked about a dandelion growing out of a crack in the sidewalk. While I wouldn't compare our home or our new city to cement (it's really quite nice) change is always hard and we will continue to work on blooming here in our new environment : )

{My Girlies}

I was off getting ready for the day and when I returned to my room I found the CUTEST scene in my bed. Thankfully they stayed long enough for me to grab my camera. I love my girlies in their matching jammies all snuggled together.

{Another Bike Rider}

Miss Emma is officially riding a two wheeled bicycle. Well, she still needs a bit of help getting started but that will come quickly. She's been wanting to learn for awhile, but I told her she would have to wait until the baby was born because my belly was too big for running along beside her : ) She was patient. We worked at it in little bits here and there until I knew she had it down, all but her letting me let go. Every time tried to let go or loosen my grip she would start to cry and tell me not to let go. Finally I bribed her with a trip to Walgreens to get a dollar treat, oh the power of a dollar. Once she got going, she was so cute. She laughed and said "I'm doing it, this is so fun, I love it!"

(Yes I realize riding a bike in a dress is not the best idea, but she wouldn't change, and if you look below you might see where she gets it from : )



Although I don't ride my bike much anymore. I have wonderful memories of riding bikes growing up. My parents bought my first bike second hand. It was green and yellow and kind of ugly, but they spray painted it red and got me a cute red and white basket. It sat it the basement for awhile until I could earn it for not sucking my thumb. I learned to ride that bike the summer before I turned five. My next bike came as a Christmas gift a couple of years later. It was a pink and white "Breezin" with a banana seat. That bike took me around the neighborhood, to school, to grandma's & to Kings to buy treats.



When I was around ten I started saving up for a 10 speed. It was blue and I bought it from Coast to Coast with money I saved from babysitting. I went all kinds of places on that bike. I pulled my brothers and sisters in a bike trailer and took them with me. I loved to ride around out on the country roads, I even rode to Idaho Falls a few times. My next bike came right before I went to college. Some kids get a car, I got a bike, and that's how I got around. I rode to class and to the movies and most other places I wanted to go. A favorite spot to ride was up Provo Canyon to Bridal Veil Falls. That bike also made lots of trips to my Grandparents house. That was a yucky ride up hill both ways, but the destination was worth it.

I'm grateful for the freedom riding a bike gave to me and I've loved teaching each of my children (and a few others people's children) how to ride a bike. While my children won't have the luxury of going all the places I used to go by myself on a bike, I'm grateful they enjoy riding around with their friends and getting from here to there. Who knows, maybe reflecting on these memories will get me out riding my bike again. I'm sure my kids would like that.

{A Tween}

Today was a celebration all about my 10 year old Hannah. Her school teacher, Mrs. Lewis introduced her to the "tween" term and ever since she's been anxious to become a tween. Her dad and I. . . not so much anxious to have a tween : ( This year wasn't a party year, but she got to invite her best friend, Morgan, over to help her celebrate. She took Krispy Kreme Donuts to her school class. We had her requested broccoli cheddar soup and home made bread for dinner. She wanted an ice cream cake with chocolate cake and mint chocolate chip ice cream layers, her favorite color white frosting and sour skittle polka dots. (FYI: ice cream does not frost easily) We finished off the night watching the movie Ice Princess.

She opened a few gifts, including art and a purse from Morgan, a scentsy warmer and yummy scents from Gma & Gpa Dredge, the always loved money from Gma & Gpa Reynolds, a necklace from Emma and hair bandies from Ben. When it came the gift from Jake and I, she was a little skeptical about it being only an envelope. I had been asking her for over a month for ideas and she couldn't really think of anything. I guess she either has too many things already or she's satisfied with what she has. Honestly, I'm grateful it's more the later. Anyway, back to the envelope. . . it contained tickets to go with me to a Taylor Swift concert in November. She was beyond excited!! And I might be just a little bit excited to go with her : )

In honor of Miss Hannah . . . A few of her favorite things

Favorite Color: White

Favorite Song: Break Your Heart by Taio Cruz

Favorite Number: 8

Favorite Books: Percy Jackson and Harry Potter

Favorite Foods: strawberries, watermelon, & pizza

Favorite Candy: sour skittles and sour patch

Favorite Dessert: mint chocolate chip ice cream

Favorite Flower: gerber daisy

Favorite Friends: Morgan, Maiya, Emily, & Alana

Favorite Activities:  piano, swimming, friend time, reading, trampoline

Favorite Subjects: science & history

Favorite Movie: Ice Castles (the new version)

Favorite Thing to Wear: heart canvas sneakers, capri's, & a bright colored tee shirt

Favorite Dislikes: getting her hair done, homework, chores

{One Month}

Loving this sweet babe! I can't believe our little princess will be one month old tomorrow and I can't believe I got not one, but two beautiful smiles today!! I wish time wasn't going by so quickly, before I know it she will be turning ten like her oldest sister is tomorrow. Seriously, it doesn't seem possible that I could have a ten year old already. It seems she was just this tiny not so long ago. Here's to savoring the moment before it's gone and things aren't always so sweet and peaceful.

{He Finally Lost His First Tooth}

Ben felt like he'd been waiting FOREVER to loose his first tooth. Even though his dentist dad says he's an average age for loosing a first tooth, it seemed a little late to me : ) When it came to getting that tooth out, he was a lot less patient and a lot more brave than Hannah. She'll work those things until they're barely holding on, and she'll never let anyone touch them. Ben on the other hand wanted it pulled out as soon as it was barely loose. Despite his constant nagging, we made him wait until it was a little more ready. Jake finally agreed to give it try with some good ole' dental floss, but told him it might not come out on the first pull. Ben still didn't back down, so Jake gave it good yank and it was out.

Unfortunately the tooth fairy was a little busy the first night and he had to wait an extra day for her to visit. The second night he left her a sweet little note that read "I love you tooth fairy. This is my first tooth." Despite the delay, Ben was excited to get his four quarters and find that she had let him keep his first lost tooth. Lucky for him, his new tooth was already half way in so he wasn't too toothless : )

{Flower Headbands}

I'm sure you know by now that I like my little girlies to have a little something pretty in their hair : ) Some of these pretties I've made and others have come from my friend Stephanie. Her etsy shop, Paislee Lane is full of cute and colorful flower headbands. Lucky for me, Stephanie has asked me to photograph her headbands a couple of times and I in turn get lot fun flowers for my girls. Most recently she sent me a few headbands to photograph for a special she's running on GroupDealz. So head on over and get a few pretties for you own little girlies.

{Hannah's Piano Recital}

Today was Hannah's piano recital. She has worked so hard over that past few months, well truthfully the past 3 years. She really enjoys playing the piano and I'm grateful it's something she does without to much direction from me. She gets up, on her own, at 6 o' clock most mornings to practice for 30 minutes 6 days a week. But it's more than just that. She plays lots of other little bits at random times of the day. My favorite is when she plays the hymns or Primary songs on Sunday morning as we get ready for church. I'm also so very grateful for her wonderful piano teacher. She has really seen Hannah's potential and has challenged her at levels that continue to amaze me. I hope she continues to love developing this talent.

Beethoven's Fur Elise


Motzart's Fantasia in D minor

{Miss Maiya Mae}

We are so happy to have Maiya (pronounced MY yah) in our family. She came quickly, about an hour after my water
broke and 20 minutes after we got to the hospital. Yes, this girl came the all natural way. Not my choice, but I guess
if it had to be that way I'm glad she came fast. I was a little sad that I couldn't enjoy the process as I have with
the others. All I really remember is feeling frantic and panicked. It was an hour before I got through the shock and
could stop shaking enough to hold her. Once she was in my arms the sweet peacefulness came and I've been
enjoying her ever since. The kids adore her and are all very sweet and tender with our little Maiya. Jake, as always,
is an amazing father. I love watching him hold and sooth his tiny daughter. My parents are here, and I'm so
very grateful for there love and help as we welcome Miss Maiya Mae into our home and our hearts.

{Happy Easter}

{The Greatest Show On Earth}

Last night we took the kids to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus.
While I'm not sure it was really the greatest show on earth ; ) the kids had a GREAT time.

{Spring Mantle}

First off, thanks so much for all your kind comments and well wishes on my last post. Next up, I finally got
around to putting up my spring mantle last week. I don't love the black frame/candlesticks with all the
pastel spring colors, but it will do : ) Email me if you'd like the files for the Spring banner.

{The Littlest Big Sister}

Yes, my little Sarah is soon to be a big sister! And if you guessed girl from all the pink in this image,
you would be right. Four girls and one sad little boy. One busy, but happy, family.