BBQs

We've hosted a few BBQs and love that we have plenty of space for guests.  For visiting teaching this month my companion and I had a few of the girls we visit over for lunch.  We had a wonderful time.  I'm so grateful for the institution of Relief Society.  It is truly a divine set up and calling.  I'm grateful for the lives I get to be a part of because of this institution.  The kids had a wonderful time...

the babies had a wonderful time....

and the mommies had a wonderful time!!!

The next day we hosted a family BBQ and the girls did karaoke at the Andersens.  It was darling and entertaining.

Kolton spent much of the time hanging with grandpa, not performing. 

But don't let him fool you... he's a performer at heart! 

We also had some friends over to say thank you for all the firewood they gave us.  I failed to take pictures of our guests but couldn't resist the urge to take a picture of my beautiful (and delicious) tart!

And little miss sassy pants never misses an opportunity for a picture!

Competitive comedy

There is something truly comedic about 4 and 5-year olds playing Tball.  Sometimes they run the wrong way.  Sometimes they catch the ball on base.  And often (very often) they tackle whomever has the ball.  It's priceless to watch.  The girls especially are completely and utterly distracted.  And yet, there is something magical that happens after a few months of practice and games.  Suddenly, I am starting to witness a transformation.  There are still comedic mishaps, and they aren't entirely focused, but a little tiny team is emerging.  They are getting the hang of it, running the right way.  They know the difference between being outfield and up to bat.  They know to catch the ball and throw it to first base.  They make their best attempts to do so.  It's incredible to watch their little journey.  They are learning about teams and team work, and rules and organized chaos.  They are developing skills that will actually assist them int heir futures.  It's heart warming. 

Plus, they are creating bonds... even if they are bonds with their daddies.... and that's pretty darn special if you ask me.

Xiana still favors high fiving the other team and yelling cardinals as a group.  She is a social girl through and through. 

But she can now hit the ball off the tee and almost hit it off the pitch.  She no longer looks like she's in a beauty pageant while running to first base.  She actually has a tiny bit of speed behind her. And she knows when she sits on the bench she needs to get her hat on, and when she's outfield she needs to leave her cap on.  All in all, she learning the life of the game.  And she likes it!

Mother's Day

I'll post more later on my big man's birthday, but first I want to take a moment and write about mother's day. 

I remember shortly after I found out I was pregnant with Xiana my dear friend called to tell me happy Mother's day.  The sentiment was staggering; the implications paralyzing.  Wow.  I would be a mother.  By this time next year I will have a darling child in my arms.  I would fulfill my greatest desire.  Of course I had never planned to participate in this sacred event in the circumstances I was in. 

And yet...

And yet...

The circumstances couldn't be more perfect because this would be the beginning of my Xiana, my sweet wonderful Xiana who saved my life in more ways than one.  I also remember having a feeling about wanting to go to the temple by the following mother's day quickly discarding it believing that was impossible.  I would never be there.

The following mother's day was my first temple preparation class.

Never say never, and don't trust the adversary.  In my vast experience with him... he's wrong!

Then, I was made a mother again the day I married my wonderful husband.  This time, I would be a different type of mother: a step mother, but the job description was intact. The motivations, the trials, the rewards the same.  The fact that Ekco doesn't call me mom in no way prevents me from loving her, and worrying about her.  Again, this was not the circumstances I anticipated.

And yet...

And yet...

The circumstances couldn't be more perfect because Ekco made Brian the man that he is.  Like Xiana, she taught him molded him and created in him a man I would some day meet, love, and marry.

Just shy of one year later, Brian made me a mother again.  This time it was exactly in the circumstances I envisioned.  Kolton was born in the covenant (we were sealed 2 weeks earlier), and he was born to two parents with two sisters, a place to call home, and adoring family members. 

And yet...

And yet...

It wasn't at all what I expected.  I thought he would be up all the time. I worried that I hadn't bonded to him the same way I had with Xiana.  I fretted over him eating enough, being stimulated enough, making eye contact enough.  And then I learned something.   There is no expectation or plan that covers our realities.  While we are busy planning our futures, we could very well miss out on our present.  If my life had gone according to MY plan, it would cease to have the very most important people in it... my family!  The people that made me a mother.  The reasons I get to hear "happy mother's day."  Ultimately, my reasons for living.  I read a quote the other day that said "life is what happens to us while we're making other plans."  And earlier I heard Sis. Dalton say, "You cannot follow God's plan until you stop following your own."  It's so true.  Our speaker in church today talked about how, in this life, it's not about what our adversaries are, but rather how we endure them.  It's the same for our blessings.  It's not about what they are, but how we receive them.  I know that I can be incredibly ungrateful at times.  But moments like today when I take the time to see how truly blessed I am, I am humbled.  I am grateful for my three individual, unique children and the man that made us a family. 

Today, in church, Xiana, the first to make me a mother, sang a song to mothers.  Later, when church was finished, she gave me a beautiful flower and said, "Happy mother's day mommy.  You are the best mommy in the whole world and I love you."  Amidst pangs of emotion I also found my self-deprecating ways creeping in via the adversary reminding me that I was, in fact, not the best mommy in the world. 

And yet...

And yet...

I am the best mommy in the world to my little ones... because they are mine.  They wanted me.  They came to me.  And so, if you're feeling inadequate, or let down, or discouraged, just remember, you are the best mommy in the world.  That is no lie. They didn't come to you by accident.  They wouldn't choose to leave you if they could.  I find it so fitting that Kolton's birthday is today.  He made me a mother again.  His sweet, independent, loyal spirit united with ours a year ago today.  Words are not enough.

Happy mother's day!!!



bally ball

And now my photo montage of "bally ball." Catch! 

teehehehehehehehehehe. you catch!

No, you catch!

hahahahahahahahahahahaha

That was fun!!!

wee read

This is my photo montage of Kolton reading himself a story.

Hey mom, I'm reading "The Ten Little Lady bugs."

There's one, two, three, four, five, six,

Okay, the end.

Actually I forgot a few, seven, eight, nine...

Ten!

And now I'll stand on my head.  I'm the best reader ever!

Dizzying

The lives of a one-year-old boy and a 4-year-old girl can be dizzying... much like the lives of their parents.  Kolton got to sport his sun hat because he is oh-so-white.  He looked awfully cute in it!  Xiana begged to take him on the slide and was such a good sport about holding him on the merry go round.

And I know from personal experience that's not the easiest job in the world. 

They were so cute.  I would spin them and then their eyes would dart all around in complete and utter dizziness.  Then they would beg for more.  I am the same.  I love to spin in circles. I always have and I hope I always will.  Circles make Brian sick.  He misses out on the great joys of merry go rounds.

Xiana was very adamant that I take a picture of her on this bug.  She's getting to be such a great climber.  And... I had no idea, but she can now navigate the monkey bars.... all the way across.

Once her friends arrived she was less inclined to play with little brother, but she kindly obliged one more turn of the wheel.

Then when I took him off things got serious.  And they spun and spun and spun and spun and spun.  What a circular life. 

Easter

We'll see if this works. I don't know what blogger has against my Easter pictures, but I have uploaded them about 10 times now. They finally worked so I wrote my Easter post... posted it... then weeks later discovered that it was nothing more than a blank page. I'm not sure what's going on. It is the same camera, computer, program as every other post. Weird. At any rate, this year for Easter we sent an email to the bunny asking if he could please come hide eggs during church as we meet at 9:00 am. He kindly obliged. He did, however, leave baskets for the kids to find pre-church.

He decorated all the little trails with Easter eggs and sufficiently spoiled these children rotten!

Much like Xiana last year, Kolton found one egg and was sufficiently pleased with it so as not to go looking for others.  He was content to attempt to open the treasure inside.

My niece and nephew were also great sports about waiting until 12:30 to go on the hunt (they didn't go to church at 9 am)

Sometimes I get a bit afraid that the memories we are instilling in our children center around the material items rather than the spiritual.  Xiana was very encouraging in that all day long she told us that we celebrated Easter because that's the day Jesus was resurrected. 

All in all Easter was a great success.  We spent the afternoon in a sugar coma and then ate our fill at my parent's house for dinner.  Delicious!  (I'm sure my original post was much more involved, but I can't remember it so... oh well!)

Drummer/chef

Our children will likely turn out to be either drummers or chefs.... I feel  it is inevitable from all the play time these pots and pans see.

Either that or they'll be smurfs.  The sky's the limit!