4th of July

This year was a great year! We had great company, amazing food and such fun entertainment. My kids really enjoyed the fireworks. I didn't have any really little ones to worry about besides Ellie. She was completely fine and just had a great time skipping around as well.
We opted to stay at home this year. My family all gathered at my sister's house but we were content to let the kids play with the other million children that live in our little neighborhood. But when it was time for bed she was ready and she slept like an angel the entire night, thanks to her noise maker. I love those things. Couldn't live without it.
The weather was great. It clouded over and it cooled down just a little bit making it tolerable for me to be outside.
Once 10 o'clock rolled around everyone walked down to the park for the first annual Star Firework show. It was a great show. I was really impressed. I stayed behind and sat out in front of our home and had a great view of them while Ellie slept.
My boys were exhausted. They were up until 11:30 and once their sweet little heads hit the bed they were out like a light.

I just wanted to post a few pictures of Ellie playing out in the sprinklers today.

This may not interest you but it is for me and for the record.

 

 



My dear Owen

My sweet boy!

Where do I start? Lately I have not been sleeping well. Being almost 9 months pregnant certainly don't expect a lot of that happening but the fact that this little guy still comes to sleep in our bed each and every night is wearing me out. Son, you have got to learn to sleep all night in your bed. Starting tonight no more! I need to try and sleep.  It has been so sweet waking up to your cute little face. I love you but it is time you slept in your own bed all night long! Once this baby comes it is not going to work having two of you in my room. I love, love, love you but goodnight son!

 

Love your tired mom

Summer has begun!

Well summer break has officially begun! My kids couldn't be happier. The weather has been surprisingly hot already so it calls for afternoons outside playing in the water. My kids are happy! They are sweet to each other. They are getting along and we are just loving being together. This year we find one fun thing to do each day to keep us going. So far so good.
I just had to share some of these pictures I took of my kids while playing outside. They just melt me heart. Enough said......
Andrew has lost another tooth and the one next to it is about to come out as well. Way to go buddy!!! He pulled it out all by himself. He was so proud!

Owen and Ellie have one of those love/hate relationships. Either they drive each other mad or just love each other like crazy. This happened to be one of those days and I am tickled that I got it on camera.

She is getting so big so fast. She is getting chunky. I just love her little thighs. She melts me heart. I just wish time would freeze so I could squeeze her just a little longer. I will only have one girl and I want to remember her like this forever. She is so sweet!

She has the cutest smile ever and she is starting to say "Cheese" when you point the camera in her direction. Oh just love that face!!!!

All my little darlings laying out to dry.

I thought this described Owen today. Just happy!

When did this boy of mine get so big? I can't believe he is going to get baptized this summer. I love this boy of mine. He was my first and there is always something about your first child that you just love.

Sweet Grandma Ray

This morning I woke up to my phone dinging. We received the news from mom that Grandma Ray passed away this morning. I couldn't go back to sleep. All I could do was lay in bed and just think about this amazing woman that touched so many lives.
Grandma Ray was 92 years old and last week she suffered a stroke. Since then her health had really declined. Lance's mom was in town visiting with us when she received the news. She flew back home that evening to be with her mom.
I am sure her reunion in heaven has been a very joyous one. She has been reunited with 3 of her daughters who have long passed on before her. I can only imagine her happiness and joy. She has been relieved from the condition that she was in.
We have been reading her life story. Sharon brought us a big notebook full of family history for us to enjoy. I am so thankful that she did. I have been reading it every night. Last night I went to bed late and didn't get to read but I felt like I was missing out. I woke up this morning and picked back up where I left off. I feel like I have really come to love and adore her even more, knowing the great life and legacy that she has lived and left behind. I have really enjoyed reading her stories and getting to know them all over again.
I don't think I have ever heard one negative spoken from Grandma. She was so positive and if she were in the worst pain ever, you would have never known it. She always had a smile and just the warmest feelings were felt from her. She made me feel so loved and accepted when Lance and I married. I always felt so loved when I was around them.
Their home was a very welcome place for anyone. I remember going there for Maxi family home evenings. Yes, I know it is a strange name but what a wonderful tradition it was. We would meet the first Monday of every month for a large family home evening. Everyone participated and everyone had a great time. Making Christmas cookies in their home, spending the holidays there.
I think of Grandpa. What will he do? I have never known two people to be so close. They were always together and always happy. So in love and so blessed. What an amazing example to me of how an eternal marriage really is and can be.
Lance and I will fly to Arizona next weekend for the funeral. We will miss you Grandma! Until we meet again. We love you!!!!!

Isn't this an amazing site? This was the Ray family reunion a few years back. Look at all these amazing people. This probably isn't half of the family. But large enough to know that they have a great heritage.

I just love this picture. Isn't it just the sweetest? Grandpa was so sweet to her and this just shows it.

It's another boy!

This may be old news for some of you since we found out the beginning of March that we are having another boy. Part of me is really excited and a big part of me is sad that Ellie won't get a sister. Oh well, what can we do?  When Lance and I went in for the ultrasound I thought for sure it was going to be another girl and the world would be perfect and Ellie would finally get some relief and have a sister to play with, but the ultrasound tech asked us first thing if we wanted to know the gender. Since I can't stand surprises we said we wanted to and there was no mistaking what we saw, a boy part :)
It still hasn't sunk in yet. The boys are thrilled that we will be adding another player to the baseball team. For now it will be just Ellie and I on the sidelines cheering them on.
Everything looks great and healthy. The doctor noticed again with this baby that he has enlarged kidneys as well. Ellie had the same thing while I was pregnant with her and they resolved themselves shortly after she was born. I guess the chances are 67% higher with pregnancies after that having the same thing. Very true in our case. The doctor is not worried at all. I am not worried this time either. We have another ultrasound a week from today to see how his kidneys are doing. Hopefully they are either the same size for have gone back down. Crossing our fingers. At least it is not a life or death situation.
We have a list of names but haven't really agreed solidly on any given name. I haven't even pulled out my baby clothes to see what we have an what I gave away. I guess it is time to get that out and see what we need to get.
We are in the process of finding our next lot to build on. Yep, you guessed it. Snyder's are building again. There are so many great choices to choose from so we hope to find something soon. Hopefully be moved in an settled before this baby comes. We will see.
Everyone is doing well. The boys are really busy with soccer and baseball season in full swing. We are running from practice to practice and then games on weekends. Life is pretty crazy.

I didn't take any pictures this year for Easter. Sorry I wasn't in the mood to sit behind a camera. I wanted to be out and about with them this year. We had a great Easter this year. The weather was magnificent and family was in town. The boys discovered their new favorite game, Annie, Annie over. Have you ever played it? I remember playing it at my grandmother's house growing up with my cousins. It was a favorite of mine as well.
We had a great dinner, fun guests, a piñata and tons of candy. This year the Easter bunny brought all the Snyder children new bikes. They really needed them and they have been riding them non-stop. So the bunny scored this year with happy children.
Lance is extremely busy building homes. They are just beautiful too! It has been so much fun walking through all of them when they are done and the interior decorator has come to stage the house and get it ready to show. I am so impressed every time. I can't wait to build again.

I have been busy teaching a lot of essential oil classes. I hold them weekly in my home. We are having a lot of success with that. We are getting a lot of people interested in them and I am also teaching some reflexology with it as well. It has proven to be very beneficial. Life is really good. I am doing alright. I swear I have the largest Snyder baby a brewin' inside of me. I think I look like I am about due any day but I have another year until my due date on August 5th. Which will be a crazy weekend. Not only is it my due date and Ellie's birthday but Keaton's baptism as well. We shall see how this will all play out. Wish us luck.
I can't believe there are only 2 more months left until school is out. I keep telling myself that I need to start planning our activities not to save me from cramming it all in last minute. The boys are constantly asking me how many more days are left in the school year. They are ready for a break.
This past week was our Spring Break. We didn't do anything neat or too exciting this year. We stayed here at home and planned a few fun things. This morning it was back to school and they weren't too thrilled with that either.

February Randomness

 This post is one of the most random for me. But here we go. This is what life has been like in our home this month. This month is almost over and I wanted to jot down a few of the things that have happened to me and my kids.
Ellie. Where do I begin with Ellie. She is the most active, most impatient little child I have ever had. She is at that stage where she just wants everything, and if she can't have it, watch out! She is constantly begging or pulling on my pants, she learned out to pinch, bite and just scream at the top of her lungs. The terrible two's are hitting us early. I am not ready for this. I am constantly exhausted by this. But, isn't that what I signed up for? I didn't think so but this is life right now for me with her. She sleeps really well, which is the best part of it right now for her. I live for naps. She still has two naps a day. We are slowly transitioning into the one nap but I am not ready for that yet. She is a picky eater. She will usually eat what you put on her plate but more often than not, it ends up in her lap or on the floor. She is crazy about any kind of fruit. She loves the small oranges and grapes. She loves yogurts, cereal and another favorite, just plain toast. Gross!
She has all of her teeth and I think her two year molars are trying to come through which might explain the fussiness. I don't see anything inflamed yet but I have a feeling that is what is going on. I can't imagine how much it hurts but at the same time, if this is what it is, I am going to be so burnt out before they come through. But when I look at her and how stinkin cute she is, I just can't help but love her and want to squeeze her tight. She is just so cute right now. I can put her hair in pigtails, her clothes are so cute. Did I mention how fun it is to dress a little girl? Well it is a lot of fun!!!!! That is Ellie right now!

Keaton. Where do I start? This son of mine is extremely intelligent. He constantly amazes me with how much he knows. I volunteer every Tuesday in his class and I just love being with him in his class and seeing him interact with his friends and teacher. He has an incredible teacher this year. Ms. Holt has really taught him to love learning and she has made it so fun for him. He comes home with so much excitement about what he learned that day. His best subject right now is Math. He has excelled in math so much that he has moved up to the 5th grade math level. So on the days when he has math he goes to the advanced class. Isn't that amazing? I am amazed. He still loves to tease his brothers. But isn't that what a brother is for? He is really helpful with Ellie. They get along really well. She loves him and he LOVES her! It is so sweet to see them play together. He loves playing with is friends. He still loves his ripstick and right now his passion - football. He loves anything that has to do with football. He just loves it that much. He and his dad have fun watching games together. He has a few loose teeth and is frustrated that they are not coming out. I have offered to pull them out but he doesn't want that at all.
Owen. Oh my goodness. This son of mine is so full of energy. So full of life. He is in preschool and loves every chance he gets to go. He is learning at his own pace and that is okay. He is only 3. But he reminds us all the time that he will be turning 4 in April. He has a speech impediment and he is being evaluated for it. We will find out this week if he qualifies for the speech pathology program. I think it will be a good thing.
His mission in life right now - is to torment Ellie. He is always trying to make her mad. He is always pushing her down or making these weird noises that just set Ellie on a fringe.

Andrew. He is love. He shows love. He refuses love at times and he also knows how to make people feel loved. I have really been trying to be in tune with this son of mine. He is still not completely in love with kindergarten. He has a great teacher who just loves and adores him. He is the grandma of all teachers. She has really taught him to read and learn. He still is not crazy about homework and practicing at home. I feel like I have to pull teeth just to get it done with him. I am not worried. We will get there. I don't want to rush this one.
He is constantly asking for a treat. I think we have a candida issue with this one. I am trying really hard to find a way to help him out. I am studying, pondering and praying like crazy on how to help this one. To understand what he is thinking and why he has such issues with obedience. But like every mother, there is always a child that just puzzles them. He is mine. But I love him so much. I just love that he will come up and hold my hand and he will tell me he loves me and I know that all is okay with the world when that happens. He loves good food. I appreciate that. He sleeps really well. He is the last one to wake up every morning. I wish all my children could inherit that quality. He has been that way since he was born. I love my Drew!
This picture I caught on camera one morning while he and Ellie were in the bathroom just laughing and hanging out. He was shaving before he went to school. This was a kit that Santa brought them in their stockings this year. I just think he is so adorable!

This is me and my baby bump at 17 weeks. We will find out in two more weeks what we are having. I can't believe I am this far along. There are times when I think, am I completely crazy? 6 kids? What are we doing? What am I doing? How am I going to do this? I am so overwhelmed right now at the thought that I am going to have 5 kids with me by myself in the pew instead of 4. 

I was just released from my calling as the Wolves Cub Scout leader. After being in scouts for over a year it is time to call it quits. I was just called to be a teacher in Relief Society. I am excited for the calling.

I am feeling better. Some days are not so good. But I expect that. I feel like I am the biggest I have been with any of my babies at this stage. My doctor keeps reassuring me that I am right where I need to be. My body just knows what its doing, preparing for a big baby. I literally have BIG babies too. All of them over 9 lbs.. Maybe this babe will be my biggest of all? I am crossing my fingers that its not so. Time will tell. I haven't hardly gained any weight but it looks like it. My due date is on August 5th. Ellie's 2nd birthday. Some part of me wishes and hopes it is another girl so she can have someone to play with and love her. Two little girls at the tall end, isn't that perfect? We will just have to wait and find out.

Lance is really busy building homes. We seldom see him. When he is home, he is in his office on the phone with clients or construction crews. He is also managing to fit his bishopric duties in there too. He is one busy guy and the Lord keeps blessing him with more homes to build then he can keep up with. We are being so blessed right now and I feel safe in the fact that Heavenly Father really does watch over and bless us with those things we really need in the time we need them. I have no doubt about that.
So that is all my randomness for February. Enough said. Now it's time to take kids to school.