A few weeks with my momma

A few weeks ago, my momma came to visit me. Its a long way since she lives in VA. I took the kids down to SLC to pick her up. Unfortunately, our A/C went out and its super hot here. The kids were not impressed. It was hotter in my car than it was outside. Yuck.

I stayed with a good friend overnight since my mom's flight got in around midnight. Silly girl got her am/pm mixed up. Can't say that I blame her, I get confused some times with it, too. Anyways, the next day we had a luncheon with a few friends that we knew in VA. We made chicken salad croissants and had fruit salad and punch and pasta salad. It was al so yummy.

One funny thing we noticed was that with all the kids and everyone that there were two people there named Sam, two named Noah, two named Wyatt, and also two sets of twins (mine and Lisa's). Super funny.

The next day we drove back to ID and back to my place. Having my momma here was so nice. (Now that its over, I can say this next part without being scared who sees it...) My husband was gone for 6 weeks for a class where he was camping during the week and home on the weekends. Pure torture for me because I was NOT feeling good at all and taking care of 3 kiddos by myself was really hard. Having my mom here for a last bit helped so much. She was there to play with the kids, wash some dishes, and mostly be there for me to talk to. Its hard being by yourself all week with no grown-up talk.

The second week she was here, we took a trip to visit my grandparents. My grandma had fallen a few weeks before and her physical therapy was making her pain worse. We stayed with my Uncle Allen and mom got things done for her momma. They also hadn't seen the girls since they were about a week old, so it was nice for them to see the girls and Ben again. It was hot and the kids were cranky, but it was good seeing them all again. We got my grandma into a rehab facility, thankful, and they can manage her pain and get her the help she needs.

When we came back, we spent out time hanging out, going to the park, and the Splash park, even the new water park. Its was so much fun having her here.

She was here for Ben's 3rd Birthday and helped me get everything together for it. She and my dad got him skated and a helmet plus safety pads. Also a Spider-man outfit. He loved all of it.

Thanks mom, for coming and spending time with me, even though it was probably mostly to see her grand babies because she misses them.

Goals, schmoles

This year we set come pretty intense goals for the year. We wanted our house to be a House of Order, and a House of God. If you know me, you know that I'm not necessarily a tidy person. It can get out of comtrol pretty easily, I'm sad to say. Its getting better all the time, which is good.

Another goal was to have FHE every monday, scriptures and prayer as a family every night. We decided the other day that this goal is pretty much taken care of. We incorporated into out bedtime routine for the kids. Its works out great. We read about 5 verses a night, sometime more, or less depending on when the chapter ends. We are already in 2nd Nephi. I'm so proud, it really is a big accomplishment for our family.

We started new goals to work on, and they include: personal scripture study before bed, couple's prayer, individual prayer. 3 days in and we're doing good. I feel lots closer to Toby, spiritually, then we have. It has brought us closer together.

One thing I have noticed is my attitude towards... well, everything. I am much more in control of my mood and much less likely to explode at my kids. I am doing much better and keeping a tidy house, or rather, having the motivation to do so. Its really nice. Its amazing what reading the scriptures can do for your life. I highly recommend it.

We are much closer as a family and we are getting goal set, done and checked off our list. Its only took us half a year, right? But at least its getting done. I love my family and I'm starting to love myself. What more could I ask for?

Can You Canoe?

Can-oe canoe? get it, like can you, can-oe? lol I know, I know, I'm funny. We went with some friends to Shoestring Lake in Wyoming. It was so much fun! Well, not at first, the kids were awful the first part. The girls hated and i mean HATED their life jackets. Too bad, huh? Here are some pictures from our awesome, awesome day!!

I'm a big girl now!

The girls have officially outgrown their footie jammies. I would buy them bigger ones, but I can't find the thinner fabric ones anywhere. Its hot here and we don't have A/C so I turn a fan on in their room, but in the middle of the night they get cold, so we bought them two piece 12 month jammies. I almost cried when I say them in the jammies, because they look so big. I can't believe that they're almost 18 months!

Aren't they adorable?

See what happens when....

Nana give the girls each an Oreo...

 Things get messy. . .

 Things get ugly. . .

 Addie is excited. . .

 the floor looks like a muddy dog walked through it. . .

 Peytie is content. . .

 Ben is sad that Nana gave the girls the last of the cookies. . .

Yes, this is what happens when Nana give the girls each an oreo.

fun in the hot, hot sun

Oh me, oh my. Oh me, Oh my. Here are the kids at the local Spray Park. Its small, its wet, and best of all, its free. I love taking the kids here. They have tons of fun... here's some proof!

 ^Addie

^ Peytie

 Addie

 Addie is sitting and Peyton is taking off!!

 Sitting on the sidelines to dry off

 Oh yeah, and Ben was running around the whole time!

 Cute little Adder Cakes

 Sweet little Peytie Bean

Cute little Landon and his Momma

P.S. I'm pretty proud of these photos!

Happy Birthday, Spiderman!

Ben is 3, officially. He had his birthday party on Saturday, the 9th and turned 3 on the 10th. I'm so proud of my little boy. He is super smart, talks really really well, is well behaved (for the most part), and loves to help and play with his little sisters. He is currently obsessed, and I do mean in the strictest definition, obsessed!! he watched the cartoons on netflix and all he talks about is spider-man. obviously for that reason, we had a Spectacular Spider-man party. Here are the decorations and friends that came:

 The Pinata. Its red with a spiderweb on it. 

 

His birthday cupcake with 3 candles!

 Ben's birthday cake, on his birthday!!

 

Hyrum

 

 Hawkins Family: Jared, Jen, Kyler, Lyndee, Ashlyn

Emma, Ashlyn, Jared

 Addie and Peyton playing with their ladybug

 Jen reading to Addie

Happy Birthday, Ben!!!

they are so good to me...

Here is our most recent (as in today) family pictures! I love my family!!