Layla had a birthday

Layla had a birthday shout hooray! About a month befor her actual birthday, Layla asked me if she could have a lady bug birthday party, I said "sure" with little thought, and went about my way. The next day we saw my dad, and Layla said "gwanpa, I'm dowin to have a lady bug bowfday paw-o-ty", and that is what she continued to tell everyone we saw for the next four weeks. She is amazing! She knows what she wants, and she makes a plan to get it...no matter what. That could be a trait that will be a major benifit to her someday, so I don't want to squash it...except when she wants something I don't want her to want. But seriously, she is one determined little angel, and you just can't help but love and adore her.
I love the way she wispers sweet nothings in my ear, and asks for butterfly kisses when I tuck her in at night. The way she kisses my belly, and talks to her baby brother. The way she asks for help with saying a prayer, and then says what she wants anyway. The way she follows Carters every move, but isn't afraid to make her own path sometimes. The way she twirls her hair between her right hand fingers, and sucks the fingers on the left when she gets sleepy, and most of all I love the way she makes us all feel happy when we look at her. Layla, you are my sunshine!

petting zoo

The other day we went to the local petting zoo, and the kids were absolutely adorable with the baby goats! Our little adventure was cut short when a cute little girl had an accident...that fell down her leg...out the pants...onto the ground, and into my shoe (or maybe my shoe went into it..either way, eewwwww!).







We have had the CRAZIEST weather in Idaho. We've had so much rain that the grass and trees are actually green, which is a really big deal for us! My guy and I went for a little drive the other day, and we were pretending to be somewhere exciting and green. It was fun. i think that's as close to a vacation as I will get this summer with babies arrival creeping up, but that's OK, I will always have my dreams.

Have you seen my spoon?

My guy and I recently did some work on our kitchen... as in we totally gutted it and started over. Our little 2 week project ended up taking 5. five weeks with no kitchen is like 5 years in mommy time. I didn't have a sink to do dishes in, and it was too awkward to do them in the bathtub, so we resorted to paper plates and plastic utensils temporarily.
(side note, part of the project was installing my first ever dish washer.7 1/2 years of sweet marriage bliss, 2 1/2 kids later...I was more than ready. give me a
hall-a-lu-ya for that)
We all got in the habit of throwing everything away after we ate...a habit that has proven to be hard to break. I found a spoon in the garbage can one day, and than again the next day. This continued for some time, with me finding the spoon, removing it from the garbage, placing it in the dishwasher, and wondering which of my little shorties kept tossing their spoons. Until the other day, mystery solved.
My Guy dished himself a bowl of plain old Albertsons brand Vanilla Ice Cream...his favorite, sat down to enjoy it, stood up, walked to the trash can, and tossed his spoon in...right in front of my suspicious eyes. Ah Hah.
We found our spoon tosser, but in the mean time I'm down to seven spoons, and we are back to using the tossable kind. I'm sure there is a valuable lesson to be learned here, but I'm just telling you the story because I think its awesome.

Ride Em Cowboy

You may never guess it by looking at me, but one of my fav-o-rite traditions is to go to the Rodeo once a year. Some years we go all out, tight jeans, tucked in button up shirt, cowboy hat, big hair, you know, all of that. Other years we just go enjoy as our regular selves.




This year my guy and I decided to go as our regular selves, and dress up the kids. They were so dang cute, so I had to share the cuteness.

soccer

First of all, the convention was wonderful. The other two woman on the discussion panel with me were lovely, and they both had great ideas for time management. Judy is always such a joy to be around, so I came home feeling renewed, and ready to face the day(or night, because is was actually like 8:00pm). But you get the picture.
Thank you for all the well wishes, and encouraging messages. you guys are amazing!





Last year I missed the deadline for spring soccer...and fall soccer, so I made sure we didn't miss it this year. Carter played his first team sport, and it was a thrill to watch him interact with his team mates... even if we did have to bribe him to actually play the game. He was SO so excited to play at the beginning, but when it came down do it, he was more interested in finding dandy lions on the field. He may have only scored one goal all season (and that's even debatable), but he most definitely is the winner when it comes to making me smile.

Hear Me

a few months back I mentioned a blogging conference that I was going to speak at...far distant into the future. Well, it snuck up on me. Tomorrow my sister Judy and I are headed down to Salt Lake for the CBC (Casual Bloggers Conference).

Things I'm excited for...

1. The yummy food at the speakers dinner
2. pedicure at Thursday night girls night
3. message at Thursday night girls night
4. hanging out with my girl
5. making new friends
6. being rejuvenated
7. having no kids for 2 1/2 days
8. speaking

Things I'm dreading a little...

1. packing and getting the kids all set for while I'm gone
2. Speaking
3. having no kids for 2 1/2 days
4. making new friends
5. not sleeping in my bed

Isn't it funny how sometimes the best parts of life are also the hardest?
I am learning a lot of things in my life recently, and this whole trial/rewards thing is one of them.
I have so many pictures to update on here...your going to love them.
Wish me luck this weekend, and I'll let you know how it goes, promise....it just might not be immediately:)

top ten for the week

Top ten most memorable moment of my week (in no particular order):

10- Pulling a muscle in my right leg know as the "Groin muscle". Craig has had a great time teasing me about the fact that I didn't know I had one...what, it sounds like something only boys would have. Does it not?

9- Layla pooping at the petting zoo, and me almost trading her for a kitten.

8- riding electric cart through Walmart (because of aforementioned leg injury)

7- running into display and knocking over BIG garbage can with electric cart in the dead silent middle of walmart. (where were all the crying children? I mean really, when is walmart EVER quiet.)

6- playing in the rain with Carter and Layla

5- Seeking advice from older, wiser, kinder sister, and being awed by her wisdom.

4- moving my fridge and oven back into my newly remodeled kitchen after five weeks without them. Welcome back oven... we baked brownies in honer of your return to us.

3- taking 48 hand impressions in the past 10 days.

2- Talking Layla into sending her poo down to the magical water world under our house. (aka, pooing on the toilet)

1- Carter and Layla singing me to sleep, and gently stroking my face after I hurt myself.


Life is beautiful...sometimes you just have to look harder to see it.