the sweetest love...

What it must feel like to come home to this greeting. Everyday it is the same thing. Myles wakes from his nap and immediately goes and checks the front door. He putters around the house coming back to check every couple of minutes. Then the doorbell rings (even if it isn't locked Liam knows and loves this routine). Myles drops whatever he is doing and runs to the door yelling EEUM, EEUM!! He peers through the glass and squeals as I open the door. He LUNGES into Liam's arms and just hugs him. On a side note, Liam is the only one that gets this reaction. I delight in their sweet love.

Don't think I have stopped the delight series. I will be putting the rest of my delights up soon.

WeEkEnD DeLiGhT

Just wanted to delight about our weekend. We got strawberries from a local farmers market this weekend (aren't fresh strawberries just the prettiest?), got some great pictures at my new favorite old barn, had a date night on Friday, found the best bargins at the flea market (that will be another post all in its own), went to a game night on Saturday (with no kids) and Baby Myles is 20 months old today. Lots of things to delight in. I am also delighting in the fact that our landlord finally found where all the water in our living room is coming from and I will surely delight even more when they bring the new dishwasher next week :)

DeLiGht #2

I love his sense of humor. I admire that he is such a good friend. I love how confident he is (without being arrogant). I appreciate that he came into my life when he did. I love that he is such an easy going kid. I admire his musical talent. I think its funny the massive amount of sports info that he knows. I appreciate how sensitive he is. I love how he loves to compare himself as a baby to Myles. I love that some of his best childhood memories include grandma and grandpa. I think he is really handsome. I admire that he has a strong testimony of the Gospel. I love that he is so forgiving when someone hurts his feelings. I think it’s funny that he has never faked sick to miss school. I appreciate that he likes to spend time with our family. I love his taste in music. I love that he takes so much pride in his size. I love how smart he is. I love that he watches out for his siblings. I feel so lucky to be his mom.

Things I DeLiGhT #1 Matt

I love that he loves me even though it isn't always easy. I appreciate that he puts up with my moods. I love that he wears his uniform proudly. I appreciate that he wants to serve his country. I love his sense of humor even though it isn't always appropriate or funny. I love that he loves our children. I appreciate that he works hard to support us. I love that he tries new foods just because I like them. I appreciate that he likes my friends even though I don't always like his. I love that he is going gray. I think it's funny that he won't admit it. I love that he makes dinner and calls his creations "concoctions" and that's exactly what they taste like. I appreciate that he tells me that I am beautiful and I know that he really believes it (even if I don't). I appreciate that he supports me no matter what I want to do or buy or where I want to go. I wish I was more like him when it came to that. I think it's funny that he likes chihuahuas. I am proud that he is getting his degree. I love that he drinks diet soda but when we go to the movies he gets Cherry Coke because that's what I like. I think it's funny that he drinks diet soda. I appreciate that we have been married for almost ten years despite many predictions. I think its funny that he knew my favorite flower was a magnolia but he once went to the florist and tried to buy me marigolds (close, right?), only to find out that they weren't in season. I love that we have inside jokes. I appreciate that he loves the ocean and I love the mountains and we visit both. I love that he is competitive. I think it's funny he won't ever play tether ball with me because I beat him. I think it's funny that if we are driving separate cars he always tries to race me and I always let him win. I appreciate that he tries to make me happy. I appreciate that he is strong where I am weak. I love that we are different in so many ways but it has a way of balancing. I really love and appreciate him. ~m

Life changing post...

Okay. So here it is. I don't have any balance in my life. I am not optimistic. (In fact, i just had to Google pessimistic because I couldn't even think of that word) I never really have been. I have a lot of really good things in my life, in my relationships, really I do. So why do I always have to focus on the bad? I get a ton of stuff done every day, so at night why do I think about the things I didn't get done? I have given birth to four beautiful, healthy babies. Why am I obsessed that I can't lose this baby weight? I could go on and on and on... During conference this weekend I was really moved by Sister Tanner's talk. Totally being honest I don't remember exactly what she said but I remember that she started her sentences with "I delight". I loved that. I decided that I need to delight more in my life. I need to really delight in every day. So I have decided that instead of doing these "tags" that I have been challenged to do I am going to delight in a few people that I love. It may be sickening to read... but I can't think of 100 things about myself and for those of you who I didn't know yet trust me it's best that you don't know what I was doing 15 years ago (and my kids read this blog too). ~ M

i love this boy... he has such a sweet soul. he loves lexi. he loves to sit and "talk" to her. he was trying to convince her to come inside. she wouldn't (or couldn't ). he gave her his apple and some cars to play with and sang her the abc's...

Happy April!

I can't believe it is Spring already. All of the flowers and trees are blooming. Finally an end to the winter. I needed this... I will appreciate this beauty because soon it will be summer and it will be so hot we will not be able to leave the house. Happy April!

Just in case you are interested...

Free huh??? In case any of you out there were interested.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSE!

I know he doesn't read my blog but we should still celebrate the day of his birth...

Labeled for you em... Top picture is Erin, Jesse and Me circa 1980

Bottom is James @ 2 and Jesse March of 1996

The stroller is not technically an antique because that would make the children in the picture also antiques and I too take exception to that.

Happy birthday Alex!

boys will be boys

it has been so wet here lately and our back yard has turned into a mud pit. i really believe that mud is like a magnet for little boys. how can i possibly expect them to not play in it? they were having a blast (at the expense of the grass) it is a damn good thing they wash...

I am not even pretending that he is ready for this next stage. I could be ready if I really thought he was ready but he can't be ready yet. I read the six signs to know when they are ready, he does two of them. What I do know for sure is that he HATES his diaper. He hates it when it is dry and absolutely hates it when it is wet. A couple of months ago he figured out how to remove the diaper... not ever, ever a good idea. I am at peace with the fact that it might take 2 years to potty train this child. In the meantime he might as well be more comfortable. But what I don't understand is why a 12 pack of girl undies is the same price as a 6 pack of boys. Is it the fly? How many 2-year-olds actually use the fly? Just a side note that this boy does own pants but life is too short to wear pants.

Pinewood Derby

So fun... Liam and Matt had a good time making the car this year. We have sorta been opposed to the whole dad makes the car thing in the past but this ward seems to really have it under control. They had a great time and it was fun to see them race. We had a big talk about "winning isn't what it is about" and when we were finished liam said, "do you think they will have milk to go with the cookies?" that's my boy...

*just a note about the pictures. I do exist and here is proof. Myles has a new "take my picture" face that he makes whenever there is a camera near and then he has to look at his picture on the lcd screen. *

Happy Birthday MOM! We love you!

Walk it off...

Man, what a month... Last night Matt called as they were leaving wrestling practice. Have I mentioned that James was invited to wrestle with the high school team and that Matt was helping coach. Don't think I did. He was really excited to be wrestling. Anyways, Matt said that James had gotten hurt and we needed to take him to the ER. What mother doesn't love hearing that? So a series of "things went wrong" and James "hurt" his ankle. The coach was pretty sure it was a sprain so he told him to "walk it off". So he did. For about 30 minutes. Let me tell you this kid has an amazing, amazing threshold for pain. I am amazed at his ability to say, with a straight face, "on a pain scale of 1-10 it is about an 11." The smiley man on the pain chart is even crying. It can't be that bad right? Turns out it was that bad (not a sprain that could be walked off). He broke the fibula and the tibia bones. We will be meeting with the ortho doc on Monday to set up surgery next week. He is home, casted, completely non-weightbearing, with prescription for Lortab with pins and a metal plate in his future. Poor kid...