February Little Things

The morning skies without rain have been brilliant. I think I really see them differently as they don't happen when it's cloudy and rainy. I loved the sky so much one morning, I wanted to capture it for memory. 

At family dinner one night, Mike looked over at Abby to see both of her front teeth sticking forward rather than down. They had both been loose for awhile and sure enough they were ready to come out at the same time! We've loved having her toothless these last few weeks!

 Mike's sister introduced us to the pineapple corer while we were in Utah visiting. Ordering one has been life changing.

Rob was in town for a short 24 hours - so fun to visit with him! He and Mike have been friends since elementary school, and Rob has visited us in almost every place we've lived (including South Korea!).

 We call this "Bob Ross" style painting. We watched one of his episodes on Netflix and then the kids had a blast creating their own versions on canvas.

Lots of elementary school activities happening. The older two girls made valentines boxes, Abby made cards for the kiddos in her class. Tayler's grade had an awesome play production - each class had a min-play, complete with costumes and everything. It was darling! Tayler was a swan in "The Ugly Duckling." Of course, her play was starting at the exact time that I needed to drop Max off at his school. Mike was traveling, and no matter how I worked it, I knew I'd be a few minutes late, and probably in the very back of the cafeteria. I said a little prayer that I'd at least get to see her. As I was driving Max to school, I started to stress that I might not even get a spot in the cafeteria (we've learned these school events are well attended - which is great, but stressful if you can't get there early!). At that very moment, I received a message from a sweet friend who said "got here early, saved you a seat on the 5th row!" And while it sounds like a such a small thing, it was a reminder to me that the Lord is in the details of our lives and knows our hearts. So grateful for her, and that I was able to pop in (a few minutes late) and still able to be there for Tayler.

Every month or so, I get to go volunteer in Abby's classroom with another parent where we spend an hour or so sharing a theme through a book, and then stations of science/math/games/art. I've forgotten to take pictures, but captured this one as they were celebrating Presidents Day. It's been so fun to be there!

 A day of sun and warmth meant bubbles on the driveway!

 We've spent oodles of time at basketball games or driving to/from practices. Max actually had a small window in February where he overlapped being on three different teams - one for the feeder High School, one for the Middle School, and one for church. While it was crazy for a couple of weeks, he really stepped up and managed his time well. We're super grateful he had the experience of being part of each team. His feeder team made it into the tournament and held themselves really well (their season had only one loss). His middle school team rocked an almost undefeated season as well. And his church bball team won the stake championship! They were all so different, and all offered unique learning opportunities for Max. He's fun to watch!

We kept our heart attack tradition - everyone writes a kind heart to everyone else in the family! We've also made our monthly focus centered around the book, 7 Habits for Highly Effective People. February was teaching and practicing the principle "be proactive" and each kiddo wins the award for the week. Sundays are the short teaching moment, sometimes with role playing, sometimes in conversation, sometimes the "short" is the main part about it. Then everyone does nominations for the winner (who gets construction paper sign on their door for the week). It's felt really doable, practical and simple.

 During the first week of crazy with the new puppy, Abby took to creating her own after school snacks. I thought it was hilarious that she made a "snack" of bread with chocolate chips!

 Mike and I had the opportunity to attend the JA (Junior Achievers) annual banquet for his company. It was a black tie event and so fun to spend the evening doing something we never typically do!

We've celebrated a few 'firsts' with Max in February as well. We attended his high school orientation night (bah!). It was so awesome and I couldn't help but smile pretty much the whole time. We are so excited for him and this new chapter that'll be beginning for him! Then, he and I spent a couple hours one night pouring through the high school class options (SO MANY OPTIONS!) and while it felt a bit overwhelming, we called a few families who've been through the process and they were so helpful! Fun stuff. AND, Max was able to go to his first church dance! He wasn't jumping at the opportunity, but thankfully a group of his peers welcomed him in by picking him up and all going together. He had a blast.

And things in February that happened without photos:

*We've been painting all of the kids rooms and helping them create an intentional space. It's been a fun process.

*Mike had some whirlwind travel from the first of the year through February which took him to China, Mexico (twice), England and Amsterdam. Gratefully, he's stayed healthy, and I need to do another post of the few photos he captured (between the hotels, meeting rooms and airports!). Amsterdam is officially on our list of places to go visit together!!

*Mike and I enjoyed some lunch dates between his traveling schedule while the kiddos are at school. Different seasons of life bring opportunities for us to find those times to intentionally connect.
*We coordinated a family service activity with a few other families and went to an assisted living center. Whoever wanted to played music, and we visited the residents in the memory care facility. Definitely something we want to keep doing on a regular basis!

January Little Things

The little things - the moments within the moments bring so much joy to in this journey motherhood. A reminder when I'm driving the same routes over and over again, or scrambling to keep food in the house, that it all matters. It all works to create life, and through the labor of our 'daily bread,' we are handed ordinary moments to truly soak in the extraordinary gratitude available to us through God’s love as we walk this road of parenting.

Right after we came home from Utah, Alexis felt sick. And after a day of waiting it out, it was time to take her into the doc. The office visit went a bit like this. Me: "I think she has either strep or the flu, so I brought her in for testing." The doc: "Good guesses, but it's definitely not the flu. She might have strep, but we'll test her for both just to see." :20 minutes later. Doc enters the room. "I stand corrected. She has the strep AND the flu. Good call." The combo of the two wiped her out for a few days, and took a full week from school to recover. So grateful for medicine.

I started teaching yoga again!

Took down the last of Christmas. The cards are always the last to go. I love seeing these amazing people on our oantry door remembering how they’ve influenced our lives for the better.

We put Christmas lights in each of the kids rooms and this year some cute littles decided Mike and I needed some too. These made me smile every time I walked in - they never actually reached an outlet which made the whole display even cuter.

This one I love. The light through the fog. And a whole lotta life and love wrapped in this photo. It’s the day Max was ordained a teacher and the first day of Young Women’s for Alexis.

Warm day and the scorpions were out on the driveway! Haven’t found any in the house for awhile (and I’m thrilled about that!).

Nails.

Decades day at school. Man, these poodle skirts I made with my mom have gotten SO much use over the years!!!

The morning skies have been incredible!

We’ve spent oodles of time in the peak of b-ball season. Max is actually on three teams right now - feeder for the high school, his middle school team and church b-ball. They only all overlap for a couple weeks, and it’s been so fun to see him embrace it all.



Warm winter days mean lots of time outside exploring! These two had a game of delivering “gifts” one afternoon.

Alexis is playing church b-ball as well and has had fun practicing something new!

Keeping our day of service going with MLKJ Day!

This cutie broke her glasses (in truth they’ve lasted so well and completely wore out). She was LONG overdue for an eye appt and some new ones!


These two dreamed of life with glasses...




Creative art at home!

One of my favorite views! Two littles taking the cans in and it’s so fun to watch the cans go without seeing the girls pulling them!

A workout buddy

Love finding these pics on my phone.

She loves this game after school and I love soaking her in as much as I can!

Mike surprised meeting us at the library and Abby couldn’t wait to pull out her books to show him what she’d chosen.

At the library Tayler and Alexis both had artwork from school on display for the month of January! They were beaming at being selected and it was so fun to see their creativity at work!



100th day of school. She was so excited to dress like an old lady until...she wasn’t. And almost didn’t get to school. When she asked if she could bring a book to help calm down in the car (after tears for :10 minutes worried that no one else would be dressed up), I love that she chose this book.

Her creative art for the 100th day! Can you see the 100 colored marshmallows?!

Life. Love catching them.

Met these two for a lunch date! Been catching each kiddo for lunch once a month - can’t seem to walk in pics with the older ones as easily as these two!


And for the moments we loved that didn’t capture a photo:

*We love the ongoing dinner out /movie / ice cream on Saturday nights. 

*We’ve loved our weekly outings to see Vern!

*Mike and I had a couple of fun lunch dates 

*Family scripture time in the evening has grown into one of my most favorite parts of the day. It short, it’s small, it’s sometimes crazy, but little by little we can hear, see and feel seeds growing. It’s beautiful.