please excuse the banana peel

 

happy friday

thanks to pintrest, we've started decorating

Lately

 Miss Lila is getting so big.  She is still content and happy, sleeping great and eating great.  She took a bottle yesterday for Aaron. It feels good that I have a bit of freedom although I am trying to savor every bit... even the nursing.  We still can't quite figure out who she looks most like, but I think that we've finally decided that she is a red head after all. 

 

Here is Brooklyn on Pirate Day. They are learning about "AR" words and got a homework pass if they dressed up. Thanks to Sterling Church's birthday a while back, we were set.

 Sisters

 On Fridays we have pizza and dad makes his "famous" milkshakes before we have movie night.  There is usually an argument with the girls about whose turn it is to pick the movie.  Pretty sad my brain can't remember but it ends up always getting figured out. Every ones favorite flavor is Oreo, and Aaron is the best because he always makes a reeses just for me.  He even crushes the Reeses cups and stirs them in just how I like it!

 Don't even think about it mom

                          

Who doesn't like a milk mustache?

 

 

Anna has been in  soccer for a few weeks and I finally remembered my camera.  Next week I'll try to get some better action shots. 

 

 

The Purple Plums

 

Fall is in the air and the leaves are starting to turn. I pulled out my flowers in the front, and it looks so bleak. Tonight for Family home evening we are going to get the raspberries ready for a long cold Winter.  I am going to enjoy every bit of Fall I can before the inevitable freeze.

(mowing is apparently a seriously business)

 

One of my favorite things in the world is to watch Aaron and Carter mow the lawn. I don't know what it is about Aaron and his little man, going back and forth across the lawn. Usually Carter isn't so serious and he'll wave and wave as they pass the kitchen window. I'll miss these memories when the weather gets cold and mowing comes to an end. Each year Carter will grow, until he is to big to sit on dads lap.  Oh how I wish some how I could freeze time.

 

Oh chipper.. or as Carter calls him "chippy." It is amazing that you are still part of our family. I have told Aaron at least 8 times that this dog has got to go.  She has chewed several hoses, bike seats, her foam dog bed that I found in a hundred little pieces strewn over the front yard, tipped over and destroyed all of my flower pots, just to name a few.  I have to say that the excited jumping on people phase has all but ceased and she has seemed to mellow out. 

 

 

I'm not sure when this smiling phase is going to end, but for now I am loving it.  I told Aaron yesterday that I wanted to freeze him that very minute.  He is the most happy, easy going kid I have ever seen. He is starting to talk so much more and asks so many questions. He pretty much copies the last few words of anything the girls say.  He just adores Lila. When he wakes up he runs to every place she might be and says, "Where's wiwa." He'll get right up in her face and smile and talk to her.  We'll see if he still likes her so much when she can start taking his things.

 

 

.

 School is going great for Anna. Along with the usual subjects she is starting typing which she thinks is so fun.  Each night is filled with reading, spelling words, math worksheets and vocabulary lists. It feels very busy most nights. She started soccer a few weeks back and is doing great. She had never played soccer until this last Spring and is improving each game. She always scores several times a game and once for the other team a couple weeks back. (Sometimes it is hard to remember which net is yours :) She is so lucky to have her Nana and Grandpa and Grandma Tonks who come watch her play.  Aaron says I cheer to loud but I can't help it. I get it from my mom :) She is very excited to start attending activity days at church and seems to be growing up so fast.  

 

 

This is Brooklyn sporting a new short A-line bob hair cut which is so adorable.  School is also going well. She adjusted well to a full day and enjoys riding the bus. She was having a hard time getting motivated to get up each morning, but all it took was one day missing the bus... being grounded, and it hasn't happened again.  Brooklyn also started a tumbling class a few weeks back.  She didn't really seem interested in soccer or t-ball or any other sport. We even tried to talk her into trying karate. Tumbling seemed to spark her interest so we're giving it a go! 

 

 

 My sweetheart who I can't ever get to smile. Work is going well for Aaron. Pretty slow in the summer but I am not complaining. He is playing a lot of golf and staying busy with my seemingly never ending lists at home. Boy did I score almost 10 years ago!

 

Oh my sweet baby girl. Lila is almost 3 months old and really is a near perfect baby. My mom always reminds me of how lucky I am to have such a great baby and boy do I know it. She eats great, sleeps great (9:30 to 7), and is content unless she is messy.  When she is tired, I swaddle her tight, lay her down in the crib and she dozes off.  Sometimes I rock her because I just want to snuggle her and watch her slowly fall asleep. What a blessed mama I am.

 

As far as me, I feel busy. There is always something that needs to be done or someone that needs help. I tell Aaron that I feel like things are half done many times. When I am in the middle of something, I am very often interrupted with an "uh oh," by Carter, or a spilled glass of milk, or a question from a homework page.  I feel like a hamster on a wheel a lot of the time.  Just like so many moms, I feel much of my time is spent doing laundry, making lunches, helping with homework, reminding about jobs, washing hair, making dinner, paying bills etc. I am trying to learn to slow down and enjoy the things that really matter. Good, better, best!

 

I like to watch the news and try to stay as informed as possible on current events.  Recently in the news there has been so much unrest.  So much hate and anger not only in our country but around the world.  I read about the mistreatment of women in china who are forced to have abortions, many times if they are carrying a little girl.  I began to cry the other day driving in my car back from town.  We live out in the country a bit and I drive past beautiful trees, a little stream, and fields with new baby colts and stinky cows.  I watch my kids run around our house with the neighbors and chase butterflys or jump on the trampoline.  Believe me, I am not trying to paint a picture of perfection out in our corner of the world.  I don't have to worry though about how I am going to feed my children or if they are going to be cold at night.  Aaron has a great job that provides for us. I guess what I am trying to express is my gratitude for all I have, even though life can be hard.  There is heart ache all around us no matter where we are.  I try each day to have faith and look for ways I can help another.  To be an example of our Savior to others and my family. So many days I fall short.  I am not patient with my kids so often and get discouraged that I am missing the mark. 

 

I pray each night, "Heavenly Father, I know that I do this every night, but please help me tomorrow to do better."

 

and I hope I do

Anna's big day

 

 

 

On Saturday, September 1,  Anna was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and received the Holy Ghost. 

 

She looked radiant in white. I feel like it was just yesterday that we were surprised with a beautiful red head.  What a big day for her and she was ready and excited for the promises she was about to make.

 

We love you Anna!

 

 

We missed all of our family that wasn't able to make it due to distance, but boy is this little girl blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful examples.

 

 

{more} firsts

 

Last Saturday Aaron ran his first half marathon in Mesa Falls, Idaho. He has been training so hard and I am so proud of him.  His goal was to finish in under two hours and his official time was....

 

2 hours. 1 minute and 26 seconds

 

Pretty darn good if you ask me. Way to go Aaron!

 

I love that their official gear bag was a potato sack. 

 

Gotta love Idaho

 

 

Our Carter spent his first night in his big boy bed.

 

I wanted to make sure the transition went well and was established before we moved Lila in the crib.  We introduced the bed and told him that he was done with his binkies at night now that he has his new bed. I was bracing myself for a fight and a long night. Aaron tucked him in and we didn't hear a peep until 8:30 this morning.  For the most part we have been blessed with really good sleepers.

 

 

Here is Lila just for kicks. She'll be two months this week. She has grown so much and is starting to smile and coo at us. I love it.  She is sleeping great, 10- 8am.

I feel like a new woman!

another first

 

Brooklyn discovered a loose tooth about a week ago.  She wiggled a little here and there, and then we realized that just like Anna, her permanent tooth was coming in behind the baby tooth. Shark teeth our dentist calls it.  We then emphaszed to her the need to get it out as soon as she could.

 

When this happened with Anna, she wouldn't let anyone come near her with a 10 foot pole. Brooklyn on the other hand found some floss, took it to her dad and 30 second later it was out. Not even a peep out of her.

 

No.big.deal.

back to school

Joslin

Congrats to my baby sister, and her sweetheart Judson on the arrival of their first sweet angel

Joslin Emmeline May

shenanigans

Brooklyn is my child that never wants to throw anything away because she can make something out of anything.  She loves collecting rocks, using ribbon to make a zipline for her stuffed animals from her top bunk and keeping little buttons and things in jars. 

Today I found a real doozy in the fridge. She is always asking me if she can keep the egg cartons.  They usually get colored on or become a home for tiny dolls and such. 

She thought she was really funny... and I smiled

{lashes}

{name}

Sunday, August 5th we blessed our Lila.  Aaron gave her a beautiful blessing and I found myself very emotional.  Lila Geneal is the name she was given. Geneal was the name of my grandma who passed away when I was 9.

My brother Brandon and his family were able to be here from California. I was so grateful he was able to stand in with Aaron along with my father-in-law Gary, and brother-in-law Eric.  It made me miss Alain, who I know would adore his newest granddaughter.  I miss him.

How grateful I am for our little family of 6.  What a life we are living. We are so blessed. 

cousins

Angela and John were here from California for over a week

Heaven if you ask my girls.  They would disappear play and play together & not not be seen for hours. 

Poor Carter is completely out numbered. Girl trapped as my girls would say. My easy going guy didn't seem to mind though. 

Miss you guys!

Lila

Wow... 1 month

We love her to pieces and can't believe how she's grown. She is by far my "chunkiest" baby. At least by Tonks standards.  I love her little rolls and how she looks at me when she eats. We're starting to see little smiles and love her little toes and fingers. I am trying to enjoy every minute but am looking forward to a bit more sleep.

We love you Lila!  

{0ur little man}

Today our Carter turns 2

I can't even begin to tell you what a joy he is in our family

He keeps us smiling and always on our toes

Oh how we love you! 

what more do you need

Lemonade stands, sprinklers, homemade bracelets sold door to door, blue skys, & vibrant flowers

Tonks 4th of July

After the parade in the morning and spending time with my mom, we headed over to Jennifer and Eric's house for more fun. We had a fun bead project, an amazing magic show by Aaron, and tie dying t-shirts.  It was a beautiful day and we all had a lot of fun!

 

Sweet Emily

Grandpa Tonks

Carson and Em

The trampoline was a hit... especially for my Carter

 Brooklyn loves the chickens

 Michael and Chelsea

 Evie

All of the grandchildren... minus Lila (We were trying to keep her out of the sun)