simple bath

Rudger has a pretty good morning routine that almost everyday is about the same. It usually involves a bath. I took this picture this morning because I wanted to try out the lighting in our bright bathroom with the new lens I have been wanting for a few years now. It doesn't really look like our Rudger because his hair is not up and it looks quite red. Which plenty of people have commented that he has red in his hair. With the right lighting, it's true.

For some reason this bath made me think about how much our other kids are growing up. Their morning routine is completely different than Rudger's. They have to rush to get ready, eat breakfast, empty the dishwasher, get their lunches, make sure they have their homework and more often than not they are running as fast as they can to catch the bus. Life is hectic for them sometimes. It makes me long for those days when they got to spend the morning splashing in the tub and then playing and reading with me. But instead, in the evenings we are rushing through homework and reading, eating dinner as a family (which I am so thankful for), trying to actually squeeze in showers and baths before heading to bed (which I am realizing needs to be happening more often for those growing little men). 

I am ready for a break from their school schedules. I am ready to have some low key playing summer days. I want them all to myself again. I can't let them know this too much because I don't want them to give up the last two months of school. We are so so close to those summer days. And luckily at the end of this week it is spring break, so we can get just a small, teeny dose of what is to come. I can't wait!

Funny what a simple bath can make me think of.

st. patty's day

It's so funny how once the kids start going to school they start hearing what all of their friend's moms are doing and the pressure on all of us other moms grows. As tempting as it was to do those things, I'm happy that I stuck with our few simple traditions. Even though, Taylor was a little let down that the leprechaun did not leave gold, I think it was a good afternoon. 

Corbin was not into wearing the green. He just figures he has green eyes, he's good. Well, when he came home yesterday he said he wished this holiday wasn't real because so many kids said they were going to pinch him because he wasn't wearing green. Poor guy. I think he still enjoyed having lucky charms, building a lego leprechaun trap, water-color painting, and eating rainbow pancakes (with red-dye...gasp)

how we weekend - march

Rudger and I made some chocolate chip cookies just because it felt like it had been so long since we made some, and then we shared them with some family members. We also made animal envelopes to give to some cousins. Taylor had a late nighter birthday party, the rest of us watched The Princess Bride. The boys have a tradition of sleeping on the couch on Friday nights. I tried writing a list of what needs to be done in the yard this spring, Taylor took over that list. We pruned trees and dug up weeds. We had a nerf gun war (and when I say we, I did actually participate and it was so fun to play like a kid again). Justin and I went on a date to a ward progressive dinner and for the very first time Corbin did the babysitting for 1 1/2 hours and he did awesome! We got to go to our sweet nephews blessing. It was a full good weekend. 

breakfast that we (mostly I) love

steel cut oats + almond milk + unsweetened coconut + chia seeds + pistachios (almonds) + bananas (craisins)

In attempt to make our family healthier we have been cutting out most sugaring cereals and adding more real foods...starting with breakfast. I haven't completely convinced the boys of the spinach smoothie, but when there are no other options that I give them, I'm almost certain they will grow to love it. (However, dad won't go for it. He would rather have a plain fruit smoothie and then eat his spinach by the handfuls along with it)

greek yogurt + almond milk (apple juice) + fruit + chia seeds + spinach

 Also, it made me happy to look out the kitchen window this morning and see the alfalfa growing into a field of beautiful green. And it makes me happy to see our firepit which is slowly making progress and I'm really hoping we can work on it tomorrow. And I'm getting spring fever like crazy and want nothing more than to dig through the dirt planting things...like spinach...so that I can put them in the smoothie that our boys will love.

the way he rolls

We don't even want to remember what life was like without this boy. He sort of has all of us wrapped around his little finger.  I was going through some pictures and found so many random pics that capture this boy so well. 

He climbs on all of us, one of his first words was Jesus because of this picture he loves, favorite activity is emptying the cupboards (and obviously you have to play in the cupboards...and bowls), milk and boots are his favorite, he has now discovered that he can move the little blue chair around to get to higher places (no worries the pan was not hot and the stove was off), sometimes he loves our neighbor girl too much, another blanket lover, that smile and laugh, he loves loves chocolate, he thinks he owns the table, he is pretty chill and loves his brothers boots.

Love this kid. 

However, he hit me for the first time yesterday and then he pushed his little friend three times while we were at a luncheon today. He then had some timeouts and tears...please please let this be due to not enough sleep and the possibility of teeth coming in...please.

late nighter

 It's been quite a while since we have thrown a birthday party with friends for any of our kids. We asked Corbin this year if he would rather do something that we usually don't do as a family or have a couple of friends over for a late nighter. After really pondering this tough decision, he decided on the latter. He got right to work writing out invitations. 
My favorite part... 'and maybe cookies'

I just love how all the boys are squished together on the couch and Corbin's best lady friend is looking quite comfy all by herself.

Like I already mentioned...I am a bit sad to see this boy grow up and have friends become such a big influence, but I have to admit, I am quite grateful for the friends that Corbin has chosen. They are good kids and they really do have so much fun together.

Particularly Corbin's lady friend. She has been like a super fun sister to him. She's not afraid to be honest with Corbin. The two of them can play for hours. She will tackle Corbin to comb his hair or to make him get something done. Like I said, she really is like a sister. I have wondered when it will happen that they will just stop playing together because of the whole boy vs. girl thing and, even though they have had their times, they are still good friends. She even came over several hours before the party to help decorate, clean up, and get things ready. Love this girl! 

The next day was Corbin's actual birthday. We of course did breakfast-in-bed and the brother's gift of the candy bar poster. Then we enjoyed lots of cousin time since we had another Packer cousin baptism to attend. And Corbin was okay with that. 

10

When I think of our Corby baby ^^this is the face that I will forever think of^^ This is the boy that I will always picture. He was full of energy and determination that was often times exhausting, but that spark in his eyes, the way he spoke, that excitement for life, the way he could figure out just how things worked... will always be some of my favorite attributes of his. I miss those days. A lot. And as the years go by and as this boy gets busier and friends are becoming more of an influence on him, I miss it more.
But as I look at the young man he is becoming...my heart just feels so happy. He does still have that energy, spark, and excitement. True, its not shown in the same way it did when he was 2 1/2. But it's still there and I love him for that.

Corbin is now 10. And I wonder...how did that happen so fast?

10 things I love about you:

1. Just how responsible you are becoming. I am realizing that I can count on you for so many things.

2. Your concerned nature for those who are hurt.

3. Your ability to stand up for what is right.

4. The way you can't stand having Rudger left in his crib when he is awake.

5. Your smile and the fact that you have been greatly blessed with Morris teeth.

6. You love getting to play with your friends, but what makes me happy is that you still ask your brothers if they will play with you...make believe games, legos, nerf gun wars. It makes me so  happy that you have not developed an 'I'm older than you so I don't need to play with you' attitude.

7. Your eyelashes.

8. Your love for traditions.

9. Your common sense. I feel safe sending you out in the world someday knowing you have this attribute.

10. Listening to you and your friends talk while we're driving in the car. It cracks me up to hear you say 'dude, guess what'. 

Happy Birthday you 10 year old! You're my favorite Corbin in the whole wide world.