Mommy & Me: Chalk Party

We've been doing activities with neighborhood kids once a week. This particular week, we hosted a chalk art party and it was a real hit!

 

Carla drawing a smashing crocodile

 

The rock turned out to be quite a masterpiece.

 

And a favorite hang-out

 

What is the maximum occupancy of a trampoline this size anyway?

A Day In My Life...

Scott came in for our couple prayer before he left for work close to 7:20 am.
I got up after prayer, went to the bathroom, took my thyroid pill and went back to bed.
I woke up again when I heard Kate open her door close to 9:30 am.
(I hope Scott isn't horribly jealous right now - sorry hun. What can I say, you spoil me!)
Kate climbed in my bed and we cuddled for a minute (cuddles with her don't last too long).
Then Kate asked, "Mommy, how did you and Daddy meet?" So, I gave her the long version. She brought out pictures and asked about them and asked about how long we waited for her to come. When she was through with my stories she skedaddled into her playroom while I said my own morning prayer and then I sent out grateful thoughts as I made my bed and opened my curtains and blinds.
I fed Kate breakfast - "bumble bee cereal" (honey nut cheerios) and I ate an orange and a protein shake. I talked to Kate about why today was the best day. We planned the fun things we were going to do for the day while I emptied the dishwasher and filled it again. 
I made Kate's bed.
Kate and I sorted the laundry and started a load of dark clothes.
We carried the clean clothes upstairs to lay them on my bed.
I saw Scott pull up in his van - I looked at the clock and it was only 10:30 or so, too early for lunch. He just came in to do a few things and then head back out for work. 
I took the 3 indoor plants outside for a shower from the hose.
I dusted the two tables in the living room with the dark wood polish.
Kate sprayed the glass storm door with windex and I wiped it dry.
We hugged and kissed Scott, then waved goodbye.
I turned a movie on for Kate (Joseph And the Coat of Dreams) and I went in the other room to exercise finishing off my 60-day goal.
After I finished my exercises, I went in the office and sent an email to a friend and then typed up a new workout schedule for another 60 days.
I made Kate and I lunch (chili, tortillas, apples, and peaches).
We sat at the table giggling about different things that were thumbs up, thumbs down, and thumbs to the side. I taught her something I will for sure regret later - when you do thumbs down you make a gassy noise with your mouth... Go to the bakery for donuts = thumbs up, doing laundry = thumbs down, doing laundry together = thumbs to the side. The giggling was intense and Kate kept wanting me to do more and more scenarios.
I put the dishes away while listening to Elvis and I hopped in the shower while Kate colored in the kitchen.
Scott came home for lunch.
When I was mostly ready I came out and started making Mexican Wedding cookies - something I promised to take to Jeni's work as part of her birthday present.
We said goodbye to Scott again as he headed back out for work. 
I put the cookies in the oven and finished getting ready.
Soon after I pulled the cookies out, Sami, my niece, came to our house off the school bus (she's 17 now).
Soon after she arrived, my mom dropped off my nephew, James (he's 11 now).
We all piled in the car as Sam explained her most recent drama. We drove to Jeni's work about 12 miles away, delivered the cookies, and got on the freeway to return our movies (I don't Netflix yet - Kate likes picking movies out at the store and it gives us a chance to get out of the house).
Kate picked out an Atlantis sequel and Barbie Rapunzel. Then we went to the Bakery and each picked out donuts and put one in a bag to save for Scott. We ate our donuts in the bakery and chatted about this and that. Then we drove home and Jeni picked up Sami and took James back to his mom's classroom at the elementary school.
I turned Kate's new movie on.
I worked on my blog-to-book and checked a couple blogs in the office while Kate watched the movie she rented.
Scott came home and began to mow the lawn.
I started dinner, emptied the dishwasher (again), brought in the plants, while listening to the Monkees. 
We ate dinner (Taco Salad), had some time together for family night, sang primary songs about Jesus, marched around the house singing Follow the Prophet, had prayers, sat outside to eat a treat, and played with some neighbors as they came by with their puppy.
Time for Kate to get ready for bed.
Prayers.
Scriptures.
Stories (two long ones this time)
Twelve goodnights with a promise to "check on her" before I go to bed.
Time for my own scripture study (because I didn't wake up in time to do it in the morning)
Another day done. Who knows what tomorrow will bring? This isn't how everyday plays out. Some days we have friends over or spend more time outside or whatever. I know tomorrow will have more chores like sweeping and mopping the floors, more laundry, and grocery shopping.
I'm definitely not superwoman or supermom. I'm sure my mom would be flabbergasted at how much I slept in today. I know it's a sin to sleep in that late "early to bed, early to rise" right? Half the day is gone, I know. But, it's what I did. And I will probably do it again. In fact, I'll most likely do it as often as my situation allows. Next year, Kate starts kindergarten. Happy first day of school!

Time at the Cabin

Kate is so funny about her hair. She loves when I put her hair in a ponytail so she can wash her face and feel grown up like her mommy. She loves wearing a ponytail just for fun like on a four-wheeler ride. But she always pulls a big chunk of hair out of the ponytail and lays it in front of her face like the picture. Whenever she wears her hair like this she looks at her self in the mirror and cocks her head back and forth and talks like a valley girl.

Kate still loves her "white-kitty" more than anything. Although, half the time "white-kitty" isn't so white, if you know what I mean. I try to wash her with bleach at least once a week but I don't always get it done. Kitty has had a few near-death experiences--not really death, we just keep losing her and thinking she's gone for good but luckily cats have 9 lives and this one keeps coming back.

Spending time at the cabin is Kate and Scott's most favorite times. I like it but they LOVE it! My favorite part about going to the cabin is taking long walks and looking at everything up close. The weather was perfect for this trip and we saw several moose, elk, and deer, a few porcupines, and little squirrels, pot-guts, and birds.

Mommy & Me: Lagoon Trail to Farmington Pond

Zane, India, Keisa, Meika, & Kate beginning the Lagoon Trail to Farmington Pond

Just the girls - because Zane was having too much fun running with his backpack

Kate pretending to be a mermaid with Elle

10 Years and More to Come

I can't believe we've been married 10 years! We celebrated our anniversary August 3rd. Here are some photos from the beginning.

And here we are at Jenny's Lake celebrating our very first anniversary.

I can't even begin to describe all the years in between.

We've definitely had our battles, especially those first few years.
Our first battle was over whether I should complete college--Scott didn't like the idea at first but I won this battle.
In the middle of college, I wanted to start our family. At first Scott wasn't ready and I did everything I could to convince him. But when he and I were on the same page, our blessing was slow to come, I had no choice but to continue to complete my studies and the month after I graduated, we found out we were expecting--God won this battle.
We often battled over whether Scott should own a snowmobile. Off and on for six years this was a hot topic (mostly in the fall and winter for obvious reasons). 2 snowmobiles and thousands of dollars later, I won this battle. After a scary accident Scott had up at Tony Grove when Kate was only a few months old, Scott sold his snowmobile but his next snowmobile is still in the plan. As soon as business gets better he will have his beloved toy again. I say our car should be paid off first, we'll see who wins. :)

The greatest thing we've faced together has been our everyday moments. Just boring and mundane is happy and pleasant. We love Saturday and Sunday morning waffles, going to church together, supporting each other in church callings, Monday family home evening, holidays, vacations, movies at home, working in the yard, walks, date nights, trips to the park, meals together, and sitting on our front porch on summer evenings, watching the world go by. We love that it doesn't take much to make a wonderful moment. Even when all our plans flop, we have fun just laughing about it.

So far, the hardest thing we've faced together has been not being able to plan our family. That one little thing has brought more tears and heartache than anything. We both catch ourselves looking around at how life has panned out for our peers. As we look, we see that most of them have three or four young ones--as we remain, facing our hardest trial. We think now that we will have to learn to live with what we have and find the joy in it.

The Zoo

Waiting to see Zuri, the baby elephant

Another great time at the Zoo!

Self Portrait