And They're Off!!

Yep, yesterday was the first day of school.

Isn't it crazy how fast the summer flies by?!

We did have a great summer though.

Lots of fun activities as a family, which was perfect!

And now the big kids are off to school!

Joshua started 3rd grade and Grace started 1st grade.

It is going to be a great year, I can just tell!

At their school this year they have a new principal and a new assistant principal, 

as well as lots of new teachers.

Both of their teachers are new to the school.

It's lots of changes at one time, but we feel really excited about the changes!

We have been so impressed with Joshua and Grace's teachers, as well as the new administration.

They are great ladies who really seem to care about our kids, which means a lot to me.

And the kids are so excited for school this year, which also means a lot to me!

Every day I ask them what their favorite part of school was that day.

Neither of them could pick one yesterday.

There were just too many good things, they said.

Oh how I love to hear that!!

Love those cute, happy faces! Here's to a wonderful school year!

Because They're Cute...Really Cute.

yep.

That's it.

I don't have anything else to add.

They're just super adorable. :)

Have a great day!

A little reminder

It's just a normal day around here. The big kids are having a few moments of getting along (thank heavens!), Hannah is asleep, and I am procrastinating doing the dishes and laundry by cleaning up my mess of a craft room. For the last year it has been a dumping ground for all kindsof paraphernalia, so I'm bound to find some real treasures as I clean!   Of course, technically right now I'm just sitting in my messy space writing a blog post. :) I'll get to the cleaning eventually....

I was looking around trying to decided where to start when I found this:

I remember when I made this little wall hanging for my craft room. It was about three years ago, back when we were trying to have another baby and were unable to.  I was feeling full of happiness and sadness all at the same time. Happy that I had these two adorable little kids who filled my life with so much love and joy, and yet so sad that there wasn't any other little ones to share that love and joy with. I would often sit in here and try and work on projects and I would just end up sitting here crying instead. Those months and years were long and very hard for me. 

But look where three years has taken me! I feel so very blessed!! Hannah is almost 8 months old and I can't help but watch her grow and be constantly reminded of the many blessings we've received in the last year or so. I am grateful to be sitting on this side looking back, but I am also very thankful for the things I learned during those hard years. I know Heavenly Father is aware of us on an individual level. His promises are real. Sometimes blessings come now and sometimes they come later and sometimes they come in the eternities, but I know when we are faithful, they come! Isn't that amazing? I'm grateful for this simple reminder today!

Back to the cleaning....bleh...

Because everyone needs a reason to smile today :)

Just in case you haven't found a reason to smile yet today, I thought I would help you out. I'm nice like that. :) Check out these pictures:

Are you smiling yet?  I know I am!  These kiddos make my heart happy. 

It's going to be a great day!

end of year AWESOMENESS!

Well, the end of the school year has come and gone and we are in the full swing of summer...YAY!!

I love having my kids home for the summer.

Except for maybe yesterday when they were fighting most of the day. Didn't love that so much.

But I was only called a mean mom once and only one of my children screamed that they wanted to go back to school, so I think we will survive.

Ahhhh...Summer! :)

I really do love it!

Anyway, here are a few pictures from the end of year celebrations.

First up, Grace's Kindergarten Celebration:

She was a nervous at first, but once she got going she was singing her little heart out.  So cute.  She had informed me beforehand that she would be the loudest girl singing, and she was definitely giving it her best shot! :) I am proud of Grace and all she has learned this year.  She is a great reader and loves to do math.  She's one of those crazy kids who likes doing their homework. Not sure where that trait came from, but we'll go with it!

And here is Grace with our favorite Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Ellis.  Both Joshua and Grace had her and we just think she is awesome!  She is having a baby and moving this summer so we will miss her!

Next up, Mr. Joshua and his 2nd grade awards assembly:

Joshua received an award for reading as well as a citizenship award. 

This kid is an awesome reader! He reads well beyond his grade level but the thing that gets me is his fluency and comprehension.  I'm pretty sure he can read faster and remember more than I can when I read!

I was also proud of him for getting the citizenship award.  His teacher and other staff at the school have often told me what a good kid he is and I love that!

WAY TO GO JOSHUA AND GRACE!!!!

HAPPY SUMMER!!!!

Easter Day

We hope you all had a wonderful Easter!  We had a nice Easter weekend here. On the day before Easter we had 40ish people from church over for an Easter Egg hunt.  It was a little crazy but a whole lot of fun!  On Easter Sunday the kids enjoyed their Easter baskets and church meetings were good. I always love going to church on Easter and singing the special hymns and learning more about the Savior. It really is a joyful holiday when we contemplate the wonderful blessings that come to each of us because of Christ's atonement and resurrection!

 After church we had some friends over for Easter dinner, too, so that was a lot of fun. All in all a lovely weekend! :)



Feeling Grateful

Hi.  

There are so many things I need to record here on the old blog...

someday I will get to that. :)

Today I had to take a quick minute to share this picture:

I recognize that I am a bit partial to this Little One,

{who is now FOUR months old - - CRAZY!} 

but doesn't she just make your heart happy?

I know she does mine.

And Bryan's.

And Joshua's.

And Grace's.

Yep, we are all quite smitten with her around here.

I love that she has awakened in me things I was forgetting, 

mostly the wonder and miracle of motherhood and the overwhelming gratitude I have to my Heavenly Father for letting us be earthly parents to His precious children.

They are pretty amazing spirits, aren't they?!