Lukey!!

This boy makes me so happy. He is always making some kind of funny face and he loves to be outdoors. We are loving Arizona weather and he loves to go to the park and swing on the swings.

Kids!!

I spent all weekend with my beautiful children. We potty trained Luke this week and he has been so good. He still has trouble with nighttime dryness but in the day he is fully potty trained.
 I just dropped the kids off for school and I had to write and express what my feelings on the school and how the kids are progressing. Katie's teacher Miss Jenna once she got out of the car said "have you seen her read" I said yes she's been reading to me all weekend and she is really good. Her teacher said "I know I was looking back on records on when she first started blending words and she has come so far so quickly that it's impressive." She seemed super excited and impressed and felt that she was coming along way further than she thought.
It is so fun as a mom to see your child progress. I know that not all of motherhood is progression and happy wonderful accomplishments but it sure feels good when those things happen. One thing that I want to focus on is helping the kids feel loved and understood even when they are not having success. I don't want to belittle bit them or make them feel small when they already feel small about themselves. I am not quite sure how to do this but with the Lord's guidance I will figure it out.
Those kids mean everything to me they are smart, beautiful, kind and have strong potential for amazing things in this world. In particular I need to praise and love and except Kevin for who he is and not try to change him when he is unwilling to make progress. Love is the key with him.

What a wonderful journey we are on. I wouldn't want it any other way. 

Lipstick!!!

I dressed up for church today and decided to wear red lipstick too. I wore my hair up too and apparently that was the ticket for everyone who saw me to say how great I looked. It was nice to hear the compliments but especially nice to hear if from Adam.

When I got home I took my lipstick off and Katie really wanted to put some red lipstick onto. So we put it on her and she looks super cute. Then she wanted to put it on me. She did a really great job and we both have red lips now... doesn't it look great

Katie's hair cut

What did it feel like to get your haircut?

"It was so good"

What did you like most about having long hair?
"About that we can do elsa braids"

What do you like most about having short hair?
" About having the earrings and that they show that I can sleep in them because when my hair was long I couldn't sleep with earrings in that were dangling because my hair would get caught in them."

Do you remember the first time you decided to cut your hair? "When Becca cut her hair and she gave it to locks of love"

What were your feelings when your mom cut your hair?
"I was excited and sad. Cuz I got to give my hair away to someone. I was sad because my hair would be gone and it can't really warm me up anymore. Everyone loved my hair too and now it's gone. "

Do you plan on growing your hair out more?
"Yes and then you will cut it off again"
Mom: "No I won't"

Just Another Saturday

This morning we went to find treasures while garage sale hunting. We tried to go last week but it was raining and nobody was out.

When we finally found one this morning it was like Christmas. We headed out late so I was a little worried everyone would be done already. As we all hopped out, the kids each headed for a stack of toys. Katie immediately found a girl pile, Luke found some cars and quickly crashed them together. And Kevin was instantly hooked on a bag of stuffed animals. We even found a bingo set later which he totally loved but he still couldn't part with his stuffed animals. 

As we left we found a cool little park and ended up playing for almost an hour. The wind was blowing a little bit and the park had a canopy over it so the sun was there but not blaring its days right on us. 

We had a lot of fun and the kids and I will definitely be back.

We spent the rest of the day at Aunt cocos house with our cousins. Aunt Linda and uncle Dale are in town and they were able to spend some time with them before they headed to a sealing. 

Luke took his nap there in a pack and play in collettes closet. I moved it away from the sliding doors because I didn't want him to play with them. When I went to get him after he was done with his nap I found him sleeping among a lot of clothes. He had pulled a good amount of clothes off their hangers since he was close to them. What am I going to do with him. 

The kids swam a bit today even though it was super cold. Everyone was all done but Katie decided she wanted to get back in and jump. I sat by the pool while she toyed with the reality of soaking here'd with all that coldness. The ultimate decision was not to jump in but just to tip her head over and get all her hair wet instead. She is so funny. 

Luke got his feet in too and was so mad that I wouldn't let him sit there all night. I was worried he would not be able to get warm again fast enough. 

Before we got the kids in bed they helped me clean the bathrooms. They were getting pretty gross. I was hoping to surprise Adam and help him to feel our live for him. He has been feeling yucky today. He was able to come down to collettes for a bit tonight and I was glad he did. 

Katie has been scared at night lately. So for the last few nights I've been laying in ned with her until she falls asleep. I have to be honest I really actually enjoyed. I know I usually want to just get all my stuff done and get the kids to bed cause it's been a long day, but laying with her at night remind me of how much I love my children and how much I need to focus on them and nothing more. 

Day after Christmas

We went on a little hike this morning. It was hilarious watching Luke try getting up the hills with rocks everywhere. He wasn't given into my hand holdings attempts though. I did end up putting him on my shoulders for the steep parts and he was only happy then because Grandma gave him a rock to hold. Halfway through he only wanted me to carry him. No more energy left to walk it out.

Katie was equally as tired but did enjoy herself. She even peed camping style by a bush. 

Grandma picked up a little piece of a cactus to show Katie but it stuck to her thumb and she didn't know how to get it off. I saved the day but got pricked by a few tiny ones too. 

We met up with Adam and Mandy for our movie outing afterward. We saw frozen for the 2nd time and laughed at our little snowman friend Olaf. Katie wore her Ana dress and looked beautiful. During a particularly emotional part of the movie I leaned over to Katie and said "here comes our favorite song" then she said "ya, hmp, you're probably gonna cry"!

Silly girl knows me well. 

We picked up Papa Murpheys for dinner and Anthony came for a sleepover. 

Now everyone if fast asleep in their warm beds and I am off to sleepy town too. 

Gingerbread night

We had our 4th annual gingerbread night tonight. The girls had a blast and we had some very colorful houses this year.

We watched a movie and had hot chocolate like we do every year and of course got crazy with the whipping cream. 

Regular day

Today is just a normal day I don't have to work and Katie Luke and I are going to target for a couple of things. I put Katie's hair in no heat girls this morning and they look beautiful as you can see in the picture. Her and Luke are both wearing Converse shoes that Dad got on clearance. It's so fun to wear lots of fun outfits that we know were really cheap. Katie is my sweet attitude girl and she is always thinking of other people. She is a a little

mother to Luke even when I don't want her to be.

Kevin's First Day of School

Today was Kevin's very first day of Kindergarten. It all went smoothly. We both woke up early and had peaceful unrushed morning. I was able to take some before school pictures to document the occasion.

 We were able to watch a couple of church stories before he left too. Adam gave a father's blessing on Sunday night and it was so sweet. He told him that the Lord would bless him to choose the right and stand up for good things. He aslo blessed him to learn the things his mind needs to know and to be confident and happy at school. I believe it was an inspiration to bless him with those things. I am so excited for him.

We picked Beckam Davis up because his Mom and I are carpooling. He is going to a Montessori school on Lindsay and Southern so it is a little bit of drive but not too bad. 

When he got home from school he was silly. He was hot so he took his shirt off (which he never does) and just lay on the couch. We had to pry him for information but you could tell he had a fun day and liked it. I asked him if he missed Mom and Dad throughout the day and he said he did. He liked his teacher and he made a friend although everytime we asked him what his friends name was he said "I don't know" so then Adam would tease him and say "His name is, Idon'tknow, that's weird!!"
All in all I think he likes school. I am really happy about where he is going and feel like it will serve him well. I miss him throughout the day but I know that he is in the best place for his almost 6 year old mind and he is going to grow so much in the next year. I love this kid and only want the best for him. 

Hospital again

Here we are in the hospital again... Our lives seem to go up and down and we must learn to roll with the punches and rely on our Lord.

We have been trying to figure Adam's belly pain out for years and he has been hospitalized 3 different times with it. Today we finally know what it is that has made him so sick. I am just glad to have an answer.

This particular battle started on February 4th, 2013. He went to work feeling yucky and came home halfway through the day and went straight to bed. I knew in my gut that this was going to be another attack but tried to deny it. On Tuesday I was trying to get Kevin registered for kindergarten and work and pick up Adam's prescription for pain. It was a crazy day and I called on all the help of my friends and family for prayers our way. Each day he lay in bed feeling yucky and we just waited for the flare up to stop. It didn't stop.
I finally asked my Mom to come down and help me as we were going on the 3rd week of the missed work. She was my saving grace and I felt that she was someone I could lean on since I had to be the strength for both Adam and I. 

We decided to go back up to St. George with my Mom to meet with an herbalist since none of the Dr.'s here were being very helpful. 

 (I never finished that post)
That trip turned out to be so painful for Adam. He didn't get any answers from the herbalist and we left so frustrated.
Logan came down with us to help us out and it was a life saving experience which actually ended us in the hospital for an official diagnosis.