Spring Break.

Spring break was a much needed break from the monotonous school routine.  Although, we didn't travel any where because Scott had to work, I made sure the kids and I had a fun time! 

The kids' spring break coincided with my mom's, so she came to spend a few days with us.  Which is always so nice and my kids just LOVE their abuelita! Brookes calls her "tita" and just loves her! My mom brings so much "wonderfulness" into our lives! I just made up a word! She is such an example to me of so many wonderful things, I feel so lucky that I am her daughter...I am 32 years old and she still teaches me so much about life, about living a healthy, active, happy life! She is always looking for ways to improve herself and enrich her life with the simple things of this life.  She finds joy in simple things.  She is a spiritual giant that guides me and is always motivating me to be better! I'm so happy that we live close! I wouldn't trade these moments that we get to share with her for anything in this world.  

We went to Provo to drop her off and we headed to the Museum of Peoples and Cultures.  I hadn't heard of it before but after googling about it, I decided it would be a fun place to take the kids. 

It's a small museum but I thought it was perfect for the kids and their short attention spans.  The exhibits were well put together and they had a little scavenger hunt to keep the kids interested.  

It worked and they were able to find all the things listed on their paper. 

There was a little reading and coloring area, we spent a good 30 minutes there.  

It was a great little activity, but then again, I'm a fan of museums! 

We went back to my mom's and had an impromptu dance party.  

Abuelita has some awesome moves! 

The next day, we met up with an old college friend from my BYU-Idaho days.  It was so nice to see her and her beautiful children.  She has four kiddos, the last one stayed home taking a nap.  

It was so fun being able to catch up, meet her kids and reminisce about our college days.  

So glad we got to see each other! 

My friend Gretchen told me about a good deal on Groupon to this fun place.  It was such a good deal we could pass the opportunity to go.  

It was awesome and the kids jumped and jumped and jumped! 

We have such a good community of friends here and it has been such a blessing to have people around me that know and are going through the same arduous process of raising a family and doing a medical residency.  I have an amazing support system and these families are such a blessing.  I honestly feel so grateful. 

The rest of spring break was spent in the garden and our backyard, trying to get everything ready for gardening season.  Our backyard needed some MAJOR TLC (tender loving care)! It was ugly and we didn't even want to spend time out there it was so ugly! Scott has been doing most of the work on his days off.  He worked for a landscaping company right before his mission so he learned some skills!:) 

We've been working hard beautifying it and getting our soil ready for our little vegetable garden.  

My sister's husband got some tickets to conference, so he shared a few with us and we were able to go to the Saturday afternoon session. I was hoping Scott could come, but he had to work both days! Bummer.  So I went with my mom.  It is always so special being there in the presence of the prophet and apostles.  

The Conference Center is massive.  

On Sunday, we watched it from home and it was just what I needed.  So many inspiring messages.  I'm so grateful that we get this kind of spiritual boost twice a year! 

Easter & Happy Birthday to Scott.

Easter landed on Scott's birthday this year.  I don't think that has happened in the almost 9 years Scott and I have been married.  I'm so happy that he was able to get the whole day off and enjoy it with us.  

The Easter bunny made its way to our house, although Brielle is sure that I am the Easter bunny! 

I have never been completely sold on the idea of the Easter bunny anyway, so I didn't try to convince her otherwise. 

Braden was oblivious to the comment, so I guess he'll believe until he figures it out...

...and Brooke has quite a few years to go until she figures it out...

Despite, my skepticism of the Easter bunny, it is a fun tradition and the kids enjoy it and Scott and I enjoy making these holidays a fun memory for them.  

Brooke was in heaven with all the candy, she went to town! 

That little girl has a sweet tooth! 

I wanted to get a good picture with all 3 children and this is what I got...no cooperation from the Brookie!!! She was done even before we began taking the pictures! 

After Brookie was done, Brielle and Braden were nice enough to pose for me.  

We had such a nice Easter program at Church that day with musical numbers and narrators.  It was so beautiful and just the perfect way to bring us back to the real reason to celebrating Easter.  

Easter is one of my favorite holidays and I love that we can talk about our Savior's resurrection to our children and what that means to us. I'm grateful that we have that knowledge. 

After our meetings we celebrated Scott's birthday.  We had some family over and had a yummy dinner and some cupcakes afterward.  My husband is 32 years old! It's crazy to think about, but it is true.  Time flies and it seems like the older you get the faster time goes.  We are so grateful to have this wonderful man in our lives.  He just makes me complete and makes my life happy.   No one makes me laugh like he does.  He is a good father to my children and I'm grateful that they get to have him to make them laugh and rough house with them and also discipline them and love them.  He works hard for our family and puts 110% effort in everything he does.  He loves God and is a humble, compassionate man.  He brings balance to my life, calms me when I get anxious, loves me and accepts me for who I am.  

I'm so glad that we get to share our lives together.  

Happy Birthday 32nd birthday to my good husband! 

You are our rock star and we love you!

...so glad you were born!  

ha ha! Brielle cracks me up in this picture! They just can't wait for half a second to take a picture! 

We finalized our Easter and Scott's birthday with some egg dying.  

It is such a fun tradition and our family loves it. 

We had an enjoyable day and there's nothing like being able to spend this life with the people you love! 

Utah Symphony.

When I was around my children's ages, I remember my mom taking us to the Lima Symphony.  She always made it a point to give us cultural experiences.  I want to pass on the same love for cultural experiences to my children.  A few weeks ago, my neighbor Stephanie who plays the cello and loves the symphony told me about a concert for children that the Utah Symphony was having.  

I was excited to take Brielle and Braden to their first symphony experience.  

They loved it! 

The music was amazing and the whole experience was just what I wanted them to have.  

We went to the concert and afterward the kids got to play different instruments.  

The concert was just long enough for them to not get anxious and they loved being able to touch some of the instruments.  

I'm grateful I can give my children these kinds of experiences. 

Around Here│March in Review

I am so thrilled that winter is officially over!!! 

It is finally warming up and we've been able to go to the park, go on walks and 

play outside a lot during these last few weeks.  

The sun brightens my life in more than a literal way. 

March flew by! 

The second weekend in March, we headed to Park City to see this awesome Lego exhibit! 

It was mind blowing!

Some people in this world are amazingly creative! and patient!:)

The kissing one was one of my favorite ones!:) 

They had some legos in the lobby for the kids to play with.  

They loved it, especially Braden. 

There was this funky piano outside of the museum.  

Brielle gave us a little concert!

...and then Braden did too!:) 

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The kids' school focuses a lot in music and art.  They have an amazing art and music teacher.  I have been very impressed and we love it when their classes have little presentations.  

This time the kindergartners had a presentation.  

It was so funny to watch Braden...

Mr. Braden is not the singer of our family, along with his daddy.  They are both a little a lot tone deaf...and although Braden did what he was supposed to, he wasn't really into it! 

...but then at the end he saw me and got excited!:) 

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Ryan, Kara and their kids came to stay with us for a week, while Ryan was taking a course in Park City.  

Clay came from Idaho to spend time with his grandchildren. 

He is a good grandpa. 

Clay gave them a little golfing class one day in our front yard.  

We also went to the pool in Clay's hotel. 

The kids loved it and had a blast. 

We met up with Jana and her kids and Aunt Penny at the zoo.  

Brielle missed out, since she goes to school until 3ish.  

Looking at the seals is always entertaining. 

Emily and Brooke.  

There is a cool carousel at the zoo and the kids loved it! 

The next day Jana invited Kara and her kids to one of the fire stations where Rob works.  The kids and I tagged along.  The kids had a blast together and I'm glad that they got to spend time with their cousins and make memories with them.

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We continue to keep busy with our monotonous school routine, piano, homework, dinner, and now soccer season and everything that entails running a household.  Scott has had some insane weeks, over 15 hour days, the poor man comes home eats dinner at 9 or 10pm (or 11 or 12), continues to work from home and goes to bed, to get up at 5am and do it all over again.  He is a robot, a machine...not a human anymore...or at least that is what they expect of him.  

I have been having major husband withdrawals and my kids miss their dad.  

It's a good thing, he's a good man and gives us all quality time when he's home on his one day off.  

I'm grateful and I count my blessing although the weight of raising these kiddos while my poor husband works insane amounts of hours daily is heavy.  Although, most days I feel the huge weight on my shoulders, I know I have Scott to rely on to guide and teach our children. I keep telling myself that this season is to be enjoyed, our kids will grow and we will wish that they are this age again.  They are all so innocent and wonderful and although I have some hard days being consistent in my parenting and I have all of these expectations for myself that are so often not met, I wouldn't want to be doing anything else.  They absorb all of my energy, I have a hard time doing anything other than mothering them, especially Brooke...but also Brielle and Braden.  But I am certain, that this is what I should be doing.  

My heart is full so often, sometimes with so much joy and other times with so much impatience! I wish I could control everything, every behavior exhibited by my children, I wish I could control my time, etc, etc, etc. But the reality of parenting is that I control almost nothing! I have been reminded of this so much lately, of our Heavenly Father and what he must feel when we do whatever the heck we want and don't listen. 

We have been working on listening to each other here and being consistent.   

Opposition in all things, I guess...and that is definitely what parenting is teaching me. 

There is a season for everything and this is the season for me to mother and sacrifice.