Easter.

This year our "Easter Photos" came from our own couch instead of my parents entry way. Which is where they've been taken for the last 6 years. I guess I could have gone over there and set my camera up and taken them just for the sake of tradition. But that's no fun if my parents aren't there. It was slightly chaotic, but I've come to expect that from remote control photos.

It's becoming very evident that Gus has a stopping point with his sisters. (And this might be my favorite photo in a long time)

He also got new top siders for church, but wore them for about 12 minutes and they rubbed a blister on his heel. So he refused to move. They seem like the most perfect church shoes to me. immobilizing.

I could eat these two up...

I hope your Easter was filled with lots of ham and cadbury eggs!

love love

toe pick

We've had a fierce Olympic spirit at this household. Like it's streaming on all our iPad's, on our phones and I'm stocking the alerts on my phone. And of course the little girly girls in this household want to only watch figure skating. Obviously. We watch it a day later because primetime is way past little girls bedtimes.
After a few days of listening to them play "ice skater" down stairs, sliding across the tile floor with socks on, and spinning round and round; I decided it was time for real deal ice skating.
We headed to the olympic arena in Provo along with 4 million other people. You know how I feel about crowds. Not my thing. As Kevin, Hunter and I stared at the rink, the line for skates and the line for tickets we broke the news to two sad faced little girls. We weren't skating tonight. No freakin way.
So this morning we woke up still feeling inspired to ice skate. I called the school and Stella magically had an appointment in Provo, and we spent the morning ice skating.  With a total of 7 other people on the rink we spun around and worked out our toe picks. It was pretty fantastic.

I'm sure your surprised at Stella's choice of figure skater ensemble...

Stella could have skated for the entire day, Ruby liked the idea of skating all day, and Gus wanted nothing but to be on that ice rink. But seriously, he was so mad that he wasn't big enough to do it, and that we weren't willing enough to slide him around bent over the entire time. Kevin and I's backs are still aching.  If your thinking of ice skating, I highly recommend "small and tall" open skate. It's like toddler hour at the rink. For the win!

It was a great morning pretending to be graceful athletes, Stella has asked a hundred times what sports she can do to get into the olympics. I love the idea of her dreaming and being able to support those dreams as her mom. It's pretty awesome. 

love love

Taking a deep breath

Sometimes when things get hard,  I'm juggling a million things, when the future is unknown and scary, I retreat. I tend to cling to things I can control for self preservation; for fear I will have to deal with the crisis on my own.  My anxiety gets my hands to clench up and I'm pretty sure I'm gonna lose it. Basically the unknown scares me. I'm working on relaxing and letting my mind settle the big things and let go of the silly things, not forcing it all so much. But it's hard to have faith in it working out. So I distract myself with some ridiculous, manic, hobby. Insert knitting.
I have spent the last 6 weeks anxiously awaiting for today.  With a leap of faith, or a shove of necessity, Kevin transitioned from his job of the last ten years to a new one. We spent the last few weeks adapting to the life in limbo, meaning he wasn't at a distant office, but rather in my office, here at home. It's been a roller coaster. In ways that are kinda fun, extremely terrifying, and then enjoyable because you can see the end. Exhausting none the less. My routine had been shifted, and we were both trying to hold onto what we could control, to still be contributors.  There we were fighting over who was gonna get to do the laundry. He won. He will always win that one.
But as I look back on the last month, with a little clarity in the crisis, I'm so grateful. I'm so grateful to know that when changes are happening, and when life gets hard, I have Kevin. I don't need to toughen up and brace myself for the fall. He won't let me fall, and even when I stumble he's there to catch me. He is the hardest working, most genuine, kind, and honest person I know. I'm grateful to call him mine. I'm grateful he is the father to my children. They're so lucky.

I just really love him. Like so much.

And maybe mostly I'm so grateful to be the only stay at home mom in this household again. (although, the last weeks of grocery shopping on my own and early morning ski days were pretty fantastic.)

love love

Say Cheese

Before Kevin and I were sealed we had a few family photos taken. I mean if I'm going to go through all the trouble of making sure everyone is dressed in their very best and showered, I should have it documented to say the least.
I got all the photos back last week and as it turns out, those kids of mine are pretty freakin' cute.

I'm so glad I have this beautiful day captured; it just makes me so happy. The problem is now deciding which ones I love the most.

love love

a nature hike

Yesterday we were heading to Wyoming to bask in the greatness that is the Barn. But instead Henry was puking. Everywhere. And puking at the barn is not something I'm a fan of. So we decided to stay home and quarantine him.
In hopes of prevention the girls and Kevin went on a "nature hike". Yes Stella likes to call it a "nature hike". Seriously her vocabulary kills me. Ruby declared after she got home that she was never ever going on a hike again, because her legs hurt soo bad. Oh the dramatics.

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party!

After we were sealed, we celebrated in Park City with our littles and it couldn't have been more perfect. Stella kept telling people that we were there because our family had just gotten married in the temple! She told everyone who would smile at her, she was so proud. We spent the weekend just enjoying each other, enjoying the children. Letting them be little. We tried to document the entire day's worth of activities. 

 Waking up in a hotel room with Bagels and snuggles. A little kids dream.

 We taught them how to play shuffleboard, and then Kevin smashed Stella's finger. Game Over.

 Finger Paints!

 Swimming! Luckily the hotel had so many great things to do inside and several hot tubs. It was cold and rainy most of the day.

 Climbing up and jumping into Dad's arms is obviously a must.

 Mini Golf is sort of a junk show with these two... It's sort of like playing with Uncle Hunter, a lot of cheating. ;)

 Once the rain stopped and the track dried out, Stella measured up on her tippy-toes and was able to drive her own sled down the alpine slide. Which made it so much easier for everyone. I was able to stay with Henry, and Ruby could ride with Kevin and Stella could drive. She did really great! I was a little nervous she would let her nerves get the best of her and that a melt down would happen. No melt downs, just squealing.

 Ruby kept yelling, "This is so much FUN dad! So much FUN!"

 We then ty-dyed t-shirts, and it was serious business. Choosing all those colors and patterns, so many choices.

And we finished off the day with bubble baths. Everyone's favorite in a giant hotel bathtub...

Even though we only had 24 hours officially celebrating, we had the most fun. It was easily the best 24 hours of my summer.

love love

forever.

It only seemed appropriate that we end our summer off with the best event of the entire season. This last Thursday, Kevin and I were sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. We were able to have the kids in the temple with us and I can't adequately explain the feelings that were there. It was such an amazing, beautiful day. My heart has never been more full for this wonderful family of mine. I am so blessed to call them all mine.

 Ashley Thalman  took our photos before hand, and I'm so excited to see the rest. Thanks Ashley!

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I have just a few photos from after the sealing, we had to dodge the rain. It only seems appropriate that it rained. 

 When I grow up, I want to be Deb. She is my hero.

 He is a dreamboat.

 Thanks to Trisha for being there for us, for taking a few photos and cheering us on. 

Thank you to those our families who were there to celebrate with us. We missed those who couldn't make it and are grateful for all the well wishes we received. 

love love

*The Brimhall's were there with us, but didn't stay for photos.