Mother's Day

I had a pretty wonderful mother's day this year. Feeling a bit like I'm living for the weekends now that I'm working, and luckily Mother's day weekend happened to be amazing. Great weather, sweet kids, getting out in nature, good food, & just enjoying the day. Friday morning I went to the donut day with the kids at school & we waited in line to take a picture with the banner I made for the event - one small thing I could do for their school even though most of my time I am working.

The girls got me something they knew was one of my favorites for breakfast Sunday morning -- and Lily decorated the table, because I told them in advance I didn't really want to eat my breakfast in bed. Little fact: powdered donettes were a big pregnancy craving for me -- so it's kind of funny and appropriate that they would get me that mother's day! (We don't usually eat that kind of thing for breakfast, except maybe on a road trip.)

Some more of my awesome mother's day gifts!

a telescope from Sierra and a tiny book

A close-up of one page that says "mom pretty"

A torn paper card Lily made in school with a whale in a heart.
A message inside said I love you to pieces.

Mike & the girls also picked out a beautiful hanging basket of flowers for our back porch.

(Hold up! - this is more than one picture)
The girls & I trying to take a selfie, but Sierra is just too funny for her own good!

Possibly the best of the bunch, though I like some of the blurrier ones where we are all laughing!

We decided to have a mother's day picnic at Indian Painted Rocks because the weather was supposed to be really lovely, and after a winter of being cooped up we really needed to get outside and appreciate this beautiful world God made for us! So glad we did!

By the way these are some of the last pictures I ever took from my little point and shoot camera. Had a sad mishap this week with a bottle of water spilling down into the bag it was in. Hope the new one I ordered is good & gets here soon! I hate to be without a camera - even if I don't take as many pictures as I used to lately...

So grateful for this beautiful planet, my wonderful family, and pictures that help me remember the good times we have together!

Making wishes! (Mike says "I wish for more weeds!!!")

Lily and Sierra were a little less enthusiastic to eat lunch with the bugs than their parents were - even with oreos! Remember to bring a bigger blanket next time - thank goodness I brought this little one despite Mike saying we didn't need it! Sometimes mom's just know best.

This one is not particularly flattering of me, but I thought it was funny we happened to frame the kids in the background!

The girls held hands part of the way along the trail - it was so sweet I had to try to get a picture!

Family Selfie

Mother-daughter shot

My cute husband/best friend

"For you, mama!"

If you look close you can see Mike up there

And while Mike was taking a few rare photos of me..

The girls made the most of nature's playground and climbed to the top of this gigantic rock right in front of us.

 

Just doing a little exploring like all kids like to do...

Finding their way to the top of the biggest rock!

They made their Dad a little nervous, so he promptly climbed right up after them to make sure they got down safely when they were ready to come down. Probably a good idea with Lily's track record of broken & sprained ankles! ;)

I love these two cute girls, and am so grateful to be their mom!

I love their Dad, and am so grateful to be a family!

My oldest even let me hold her hand for a little bit on the walk back. (I handed my camera to Mike - who knows how much longer moments like that will happen!)

...and also enjoyed the cuteness that is six-year old Sierra!

So grateful for this beautiful day and for the many blessings I have. I hope I will remember it forever!
Happy Mother's Day and lots of daily gratitude to all the moms out there who are doing their best at this pretty wonderful, incredibly difficult job! Especially to my own mom, Mike's mom, and my grandmother's who have helped us so much, and set such wonderful examples for us as parents! I only hope to be as hardworking, dedicated and cool as they are by the time I hopefully get some grandkids of my own!

April 2018

Lily has helped me wash our plastic eggs in years past... This time it was a consequence, but Sierra chipped in to help her sister out and I think they ended up enjoying it. It always looks like so many more when you spread them all out opened up and especially when you do the close-up camera angle - these two are little comedians.

I'm another year older - I like this one with the lights dimmed - candlelight is an old flatterer ;)

I made a chocolate layer cake with chocolate mousse filling and chocolate ganache and chocolate shavings on top with our favorite Lindt chocolate bars, and a strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting flavored with real strawberries.

They both turned out really good, but it was way too much cake for our little family party.

 Lily made me this lovely banner

Sierra hardly ever stands still long enough to get a good picture - even when the pose is her idea. Can't believe how tall my girls are growing! You wouldn't guess there was 4 years difference by their height!

Easter 2018

Some pictures from our Easter celebrations this year...

Dyeing eggs:

Rice Krispie Easter Baskets:

Easter morning:

Deviled eggs chicks:

The hunt:

Counting the loot:

Sierra saying "chocolate" in a bored tone as she opened each egg. Daddy Easter bunny picked out a little too much of that this year for this fruity candy lover. It was pretty funny :)

Lily in her great grandfather's hat.

We decided to hold off on taking family pictures this year. I'd been sick and it was cold, and we didn't buy new easter dresses this year. So we will have to take some this summer. I'm finally feeling better, but Lily seems to be coming down with a cold. Hope we can all be healthy for a while!

Time marches on

I can’t believe how long it’s been since I blogged! This has been a tough year, I don’t think me or the kids have ever been sick so much. (I am only up right now because I am waiting until I can take more ibuprofen before I go to sleep so maybe when I do I can sleep a little longer before waking up again. It seems like weekends & holidays are sick magnets.) I started working full time before Christmas, and am still struggling to find a good balance. Life is so crazy busy I am really missing being home! There are good things to working, and I enjoy my job, but I feel like it’s all I do now, for the most part...and I worry I am not there enough for my kids. I’m sure every working mom probably goes through this. It sure stinks that it’s not easier to earn a decent living for a family these days! Anyway, I took my pain medicine & some Benadryl with decongestant so I guess I am ready to hit the hay. Got a big day tomorrow with egg dyeing & cinnamon rolls & conference & coloring pages & eggs to stuff and all our family Easter traditions to fulfill! Hopefully my immune system will kick in and I will get over this terrible cold, & Lily will get over hers too! :)