This is my life

These are a few pictures of the most precious little people in my life. I can't imagine life without them. This is my life. These are the people I get up every morning for. I am so thankful for the little feet and dirty hands that give me hugs and kisses at the end of the day. These are the moments I wish I could just bottle up and open on a hard day that comes every now and then.

Keaton and Andrew have become good friends. They love being with each other. They have become good friends. Keaton is so eager for a brother who can get up and run with him and play sports.

I watch them and I am so amazed that they are a part of me and Lance. Children the Lord has blessed us with. I couldn't be any happier than I am now. Well, besides a little more sleep, which would be so nice. I love my life and this is my life.

A new calling

This week I was released as the Primary Chorister. I will miss it, but I am also so excited for my new calling as a Miamaid advisor in the Young Womens. I am looking forward to serving with the amazing women who are in there. We only have two miamiads right now but that is soon to change this spring when we get 10 new girls. Wish me luck.

Our fun lives

Here are a few pictures from the past couple of days. We had some fun in Arizona. Pulling the kids behind the lawn mower seemed to be the best entertainer for the kids. It was fun to watch Lance pull them around the yard. They got a kick out it. We also came home to lots of snow. We had a snow day so we went out and played for alittle but until my kids started crying because they were so cold. Enjoy!

Children of God

Being the Primary Chorister in our ward has been a very interesting calling. It has brought me out of my comfort zone and I have learned so much about music. It has been a blessing to me in my own life. I really enjoy seeing the children each week. It has been a few weeks since I have been to our ward due to holiday traveling and sick children so it took me awhile to get back into the singing mode again. This month's theme for the Primary is "I am a child of God." We are learning the simple hymm that is so familiar to all of us. Today we focused on the first two verses. "I am a child of God and He has sent me here. Has given me an earthly home with parents kind and dear. I am a child of God and so my needs are great. Help me to understand His words, before it grows to late. Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way. Teach me all that I must do, to live with Him some day." As I was in the Junior Primary we started singing the first verse and I was so overcome with love and peace and the reasurrance that these sweet children were all children of God. I am a child of God. That really hit me hard today. The spirit bore sweet testimony to all of us of this truth. We pulled out my silly hat to place on the teacher of the class that sung the best. It seemed to be a big hit. So we will pull that one out again sometime soon for Primary.
I felt prompted to just a little bit about our daughter Madalynn. I felt peace about it. I know what she is a daughter of God. That He has a plan for her as well as me, here earthly mom. Even though we only spent a few days with her, she blessed our lives with Christlike love. You know that pure love that is only felt by the Spirit when we are in the presense of something far beyond ourselves. I think of her often and wonder where she is and what she thinks of me. I am trying to do my best. I fall short so much I hope that one day I can make it back to her.
We are all children of God. If we could only feel that, then love would overtake the world and peace would be restored once again. May we all love others and see them as the Lord sees them.

Being sick is never fun

Where is my happy boy? Andrew has been feeling icky for the past two weeks or so. Since we left for Arizona. He has been so attached to me. He won't even let Lance hold him without letting out a scream for mom. I have been so tired lately that it makes me even more tired holding him and carrying him everywhere. I hope that this passes soon. Because I want my happy, content Andrew back. It is no fun to be sick. Go away ickys is what we say everyday. He is on an Antibiotic which he has to be on for 10 days. But the side effects have not been fun for him either. Upset stomach and diarrea. That is never any fun. Andrew sweetheart, just hold on a little bit more and you will feel better. I love you!

My goals for the New Year

I always try to make a list of goals at the begining of the year that I want to accomplish. So here is my list for this year:

Scripture Study Find time to read my scriptures so that I am actually studying them, not just reading them. I can't read in bed because I would just fall asleep. I need to wake up earlier every morning to get it done.

Be a more loving and dedicated wife and mother.

Attend the temple more often.

Lose baby weight. I think I am doing ok so far. After having 3 children so close together, it has been hard to get it all completely gone. So I am going to try to make it to the gym and work out. I need to fell motivated again and feel better about myself. It is true, when they say that mothers tend to neglect themselves after they have kids, and that is what I have done.

Keep in touch with family members more often.

Spend quality time with my children.

Spend one on one time with Lance.

This is my list of things to accomplish this year. If I make my list too long, then it feels overwhelming and I don't do anything. So we start small and work my way up.

A New Year

We made it back from Arizona. I have to admit that it was one of the craziest weeks of my life. We were there for a full week. The kids traveled so well. We couldn't have had better luck. They were good travelers. Everyone came the same day. There were 9 children with all their spouses and children all under one roof. It was a tight squeeze but we all managed. Staying up every night until almost midnight was a challenge to me since I am usually in bed come 9 p.m. Keaton and Andrew are not used to sleeping in the same bedroom so that was something they overcame. They did remarkably well. I think we will put them together in the same bedroom now that they are used to it.
It was so fun to be with everyone. There were about 12 kids under the age of 8 running like crazy all over Grandma's house. It was really noisy. It was hard to think to myself at times. But it was fun playing non-stop all week.
Since there were that many kids around it was obvious that someone would end up sick. Yep, it happened to my children. Andrew was so cranky all week. He clung to me like it was death to let go. He wore me out just lugging him around. It's nice to know that I am that loved by him. He had and still has the worst runny nose. I need to take him into the doctor's tommorrow and have him looked at. Keaton has had a bad cough too. I hope it is nothing serious.
It was so nice and warm. The weather was perfect for playing outside and that is just what we did all week. The biggest hit were rides on the Grandpa Snyder's riding lawn mower. Lance hooked up a piece of board and rope and all the kids sat on it while he pulled them around the yard. It so interesting to think that was entertaining for them. It kept them busy and we (the moms) were so glad for a little release. Thanks sweetheart for helping us out.
Eldon and Shelly's wedding reception turned out beautiful. It was packed with lots of amazing people and a touch of Italian food made for a perfect night. Later that night after taking down and bringing home all the decor we sat around the front room and watched them open their wedding gifts.
We had a great time, but it is nice to be back home. We missed our beds and routines. Traveling is nice but let's not do that again for a while. Ok?