outside

I love/hate the teasing that springtime gives us. I usually don't count on being able to enjoy being warm outside until May, but when it's the middle of March and we can be outside without being cold, I am happy. We've really tried to take advantage of this. (and anytime we can be outside without working in the yard, we'll take, but we'v enjoyed plenty of that)

Have you ever been to city creek? (and I'm not talking about the shopping center) It is so beautiful. Such a pretty place to spend a Sunday afternoon. And if you love little baby dogs, like Levi, there are tons of them.

And there's plenty of water.







and plenty of dirt and rocks.

Nothing, like getting a free ride with daddy.

Our State Capitol. It sure is a beautiful building, I was in awe. And the landscaping is so pretty. Justin actually worked on the grounds when he was in high school, but it's changed a lot since then.

However, the boys weren't quite as interested in the architect and the landscaping as we were...

They were a little busy fishing out our tax money, I mean pennies, out of the fountain. (yes, we did make them throw the money back)

The boys really wanted to have their picture taken with the lion, there's a huge drop off on the other side of the lion, but we figured if Justin was right there and they stayed sitting on the one side, they would be fine. As we were adjusting them. A police sitting in his car spoke through his loud speaker..."get off the lion" Woops, I hurried and snapped a picture while I was tellling them to get down. After we got them down Justin and I were saying what, there wasn't any sign. Corbin said, "yes there is, just right over here on the back side, it says not to climb on the lion!" Thanks buddy...

If you ever get a chance to go to the castle park, go, it's a huge hit with our boys. But daddy has to come for the tire swing, cause there is no way I would last on that thing. My stomach would give me about 4 seconds.

I love these pictures. The looks on their faces says it all.

We are so excited to be putting in a firepit in our backyard. Corbin couldn't wait, so he gathered all the big rocks in our yard and made his own. The he gathered as many sticks as he could find and then convinced Justin to build a fire.

I have a feeling we will be spending A LOT of time outside this year.

(we had a very special event this month that I promise I will document soon)

our st. patrick's day

We had a very cute, unusual Leprechaun come to our house this year.

First of all, we had a very sick Taylor on Friday. The poor child told me he felt like throwing up in the morning, but I didn't believe him. (Tay likes school, but he also loves being home and he's tried that one on us before.) It was class picture day and his teacher really wanted everyone to be there, so I told Taylor can you please just go, I think you'll be fine. He ate a few bites and decided he would go. After the two boys left, Justin, Levi and I worked out in the yard all morning and when the bus pulled up at the end of the Kindergarten day and no Taylor got off, I panicked. I ran inside and there were two missed calls from the school about 15 minutes before. I called back. Taylor threw up in the classroom just before school ended. All over his desk. I felt horrible. However, he DID make the class pictures.

Second, with the weather being (if you don't count the last three days) incredible amazing. My two big boys...Justin and Corbin...decided to go on a backpacking overnighter just up the mountain by our house on Friday night. They had a blast. I can't help but be so excited for Justin. He has three boys that he gets to do these kinds of things with...and hopefully they'll include me every now and then. Corbin was so excited to get home and tell me his favorite parts.
Building a campfire.
Eating the ramen noodles they made over the campfire.
Hiking and crossing the bridge they saw in the picture on the Internet.
Having hot chocolate with dad in the morning.

Taylor didn't miss out too much. With me not having my husband to sleep next to, Taylor got to spend the night there. He was so excited to tell Justin and Corbin that good news. Levi, was too tired to care. Although there were some tears shed as Justin and Corbin drove off. (and they were not from me)

So, as I said, our Leprechaun visit was unusual. With Taylor being sick, Daddy and Corbin gone in the morning, our leprechaun decided not to make a mess of the house and play too many mean tricks. Instead, Justin pointed out to the boys that our Leprechaun cleaned the entire house and left the table sprinkled with rainbow love. (not to mention the pot of gold made by Taylor and his own face made by Levi )


The rest of the day was full of treats, making lucky charm graphs, NO yard work, playing, reading lephrecaun books, and then a special 'green treats' movie night. (as though we needed more treats).

Even though sickness fell on some of us the next day. It really was a very nice weekend. (we even got an extra day off from school on Monday to fully recover and relax).

And Corbin and I like to tell the others that we are so grateful for our green eyes...keeps us safe every year. Although the others don't think it counts!

levi - not squishy

We can't get enough of this big boy. For the past year we have called this boy our 'little squishy'...but he would inform us that he is not a little squishy, he is a BIG squishy. How can we not resist something so adorable? Sadly, he informed us the other day that he no longer wants to be called big squishy, "my name is Levi!" We will respect his wishes, that is the name we gave him after all and we love it. But I have to take one last stroll down memory lane of our biggest squishy ever!

Thanks for letting me do that. We love you LEVI! Our super big 3 1/2 year old.

eight

Justin and I remember holding this little boy and talking to each other about how we can't imagine how long it would be before he was a grown up boy, eight years old. That's a big milestone in a child's life in our church, and it seemed like forever away.

But here we are now.

We had no idea who this child would become. We didn't know the many years of laughter he would bring us. We didn't know he would be so one track minded and full of determination, which at times I felt was so frustrating, until I realized how far it will take him in life. We didn't know how sensitive he would be. How helpful he would be. We really didn't realize and fully understand the amount of joy we would feel to actually be the ones to raise this fine young man.



But we sure are learning fast.

We try to make our kids birthdays special, but I think I need to start petitioning for no school on their birthdays. I'm probably being selfish, he actually loved getting all that attention at school. They even had a fun birthday song they sang to him while he stood on his teachers desk and then he got to leap off. (he has THE funnest teacher)

So back to the point, we try to make the time we actually have with them special.

His favorite breakfast at the time of his birthday (his favorite changes almost daily) was German Pancakes. So Breakfast in Bed it was.


Afterwards, we pulled out his baby scrapbook and took a look. My kids love looking at pictures of themselves when they were young.



After school we headed over to the mailbox. There just happened to be balloons waiting for him there.







There were some special birthday cards in there from some very special people.




Finally, after what felt like an eternity to Corbin, Daddy got home from work. He was so excited to see what was waiting for him in those presents that were waiting for him all afternoon(do you love Tay's special wrapping job, he sure is my Christmas baby)



The boys love giving each other gifts for their birthdays.



Levi gave Corb's a Penguin puzzle and his favorite treat ever...



Hershey's candybar. He thinks it's the most delicate chocolate around. (good thing I haven't introduced him to my stash yet...Lindor Balls...dark)







Taylor gave him a little lego set.

To help the time go faster while waiting for dad, we made his cake. Yes, Corbin helped, yes it's not perfect, yes we loved it. (it's dirt and grass, two of his favorite things)











It was a good day.



I love the opportunity to be Corbin's mom. I feel so many times that I am making mistakes left and right. I feel like I am always apologizing, but I realized, that's it. If we can learn something from each other it's that we can always ask each other for forgiveness, accept that apology from each other, and start over again, just like Heavenly Father does for us every single day. I love the things I learn from being a mother. I just hope that Corbin understands that that's exactly what I'm doing. Learning. And hoping that I get better because of it.

We love you Corbin for so many reasons.

1) How helpful you are getting around the house. I love that you always take your dinner plate straight to the sink as soon as you are done. I don't know how you picked up that great habit, but you sure are consistent.

2) Your senstivity to the spirit. We are noticing a change in how you react when you feel the spirit. It comes in the form of moisture in your eyes. I think it's very sweet and I hope that doesn't change.

3) You're abiltiy to work hard. Last fall you were so excited when you broke out in your first drops of sweat from working so hard in the yard. You wanted to be just like dad.

4) Your exploring nature. You have a newfound love of the field behind our house. I have a feeling this summer will see many hours of you out there.

5) You have worked really hard this year to get your reading and writing up. That's what makes me proud. You don't have to be the best, you just have to work your hardest. I'm loving what is coming home from school...

6) Your passion and love of our country. Besides the gospel, that is one thing I wanted to instill in you. I'm glad you chose that.

7) Your new grown up smile.

8) But mostly because you are you. You are real and you don't pretend to be someone else.