It's about time!

This morning as I drove the kids through the drizzling rain to school, they googled their names and this little blog popped up on their search.  They were so amazed that I had a blog and then came the question, "why did you stop?" Well... I got busy and blogging as a fad faded away, and then facebook seemed to take over and the need to communicate in this format dissipated somewhat.  The rain continued to drizzle and instead of searching for the dinner recipe I hopped onto the blog and read those entries. Wow!  I'm so grateful to have those memories preserved somewhere.  Life has changed so drastically, I felt like I was reading about someone else life.  So much has changed and yet so much remains the same.  Those kids were the focus and purpose of my life then and remain that way today.  Home and family continue to hold status as priority number one for me.  It hasn't always been easy, but I wouldn't change it for the world.

So for a family update...

Craig is working in Springfield, Missouri running the finances for a business out there.  It's not his favorite, but he works hard for us.  We miss him during the week but have become even more fond of weekend family time. We are so grateful for modern technology that allows us to talk to him on the way to school, chat about our day in the afternoon and read scriptures with him at night.

Sierra is growing up- especially if you look at the last picture of her on this blog.  She'll be a teenager soon, which seems crazy to me.  Though she has physically changed a lot her sweet personality hasn't changed much.  She still loves to sing, be with friends and help others.  She is inclusive, helpful and kind.  She still loves to snuggle and read (especially on rainy days) and dance around the house. She is keen to listen and learn from others and is obedient. In the morning you'll find her in a cozy chair reading her scriptures and this is also where you will find her right before bed.  I love being her mom!

Gideon has only intensified through the years and keeps me on my toes.  He is a quick learner and thinks deeply and logically.  His joy is solving problems (escape rooms are his favorite!!).  He is a voracious reader which is why when I make him go outside to play I have to specifically ban books.  He loves deeply and has a great sense of humor.  As a very young 6th grader, he is working to find his place in middle school.  He's at drama club this afternoon- hope it's going well!  I am often in awe at his abilities and can't wait to see what life has in store for him.


Me.  Well, for right now I am a homemaker.  I love being truly present for my family and not juggling so much.  In just a few short years these kids will be off on their own so I am trying to soak up time with them and help prepare them for that impeding indolence.  I have been spending some time on me and figuring out next steps. Life is a journey for sure!

Summertime Fun

When I started this blog nearly three years ago I posted just about every week. Then it became once a month and I'm afraid that now it's become a seasonal blog. So what have we been doing now that it's summer? Roasting in the heat? Swimming in the pool? Hunkering down in the air conditioning? YES! Summers in the south are hot but at least they are green and beautiful. Our biggest news is that now we have a HOUSE!! About three weeks ago we moved in to a beautiful new home. My kiddos can now somersault and run and dance- all in the house! And if they get too rambunctious they can go OUTSIDE!! Craig has been happily busy with house projects. We now have a stereo surround sound system, handles on all our cabinets, an entertainment center, etc. It's been fun to see his handy man side a bit. He has also helped me out on our new PRESCHOOL. I've decided to open a little preschool in our home. Butterflies & Bullfrogs Preschool will be opening fall semester. I can hardly wait to teach little ones in my home. Until then we will continue to meet our new friends, swim at the pool and enjoy this beautiful place called HOME!

We Love Spring!

Here's what we've been up to in my over two months of blogging absence:

• Starting food storage- finally! I have enough oats and wheat for one month. Got to start somewhere.


• Making our own bread. So delicious and much easier than you think. Here's one of my favorite whole wheat bread recipes: http://trainermomma.com/


• Learning to speak! Six months ago, Gideon began speech therapy due to verbal apraxia. He is now speaking at age appropriate levels. I can finally communicate with my little guy! It's amazing how his progress has lowered the frustration levels in our home.


• Watching our new home be built. At the end of June our home should be finished and we can say adios to apartment living- yahoo!


• Spending lots of time outdoors. I can't remember a more beautiful spring in Texas. We've gone camping, explored big parks and spent many many afternoons at local parks.


• Playing soccer and "baseball". Sierra has become a little sporty girl who wants to play soccer and hit balls with tennis racquet's at any chance. I toyed with the idea of getting her a real bat then quickly realized that a small apartment, a bat and a two year old boy just don't mix well.


• Going on fun dates. Craig and I went to a Houston rockets game last month and went to a Miller Outdoor Theater production of Cats this month. We both look forward to these nights when parenting responsibilities are put aside and we can focus on having fun together.


• Teaching the primary children the stories from the Old Testament. A great opportunity to learn more about the amazing men and women who made righteous choices for the benefit of generations.


• Trying to spend more time with each other rather than the computer.

Love

Love is in the air this time of year. Here are some of my loves:

• I love being home with my children
  
• I love eating fresh whole wheat bread
• I love that my parents have sacrificed just about everything to serve the Lord as missionaries in Mexico
• I love that my new apartment has a garage- attached!
• I love days when we go nowhere and just hang out together as a family
• I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that the peace I feel and the great love in my heart comes from my Savior.
• I love that my parents, my big sisters (4 of them) and my little brothers (4 of them) connect everyday- thank you myfamily.com
• I love that pure burst of joy when my 2 year old does something he couldn't do before
• I love the blogs from good friends that help me keep in touch and inspire me
• I love that my husband has a job that he loves and that is now just 1.25 miles from our home.
• I love sunshine
• I love that my 4 year old dances everyday and would rather snuggle on the couch with mom or dad and a good book than do just about anything.
• I love that I live in America
• I love the power in myself that I feel after I go for a good morning run
• I love reading the Book of Mormon and learning from those great scripture hero's
• I love that my little ones now drink spinach and call it dinosaur juice
• I love the goodness that surrounds me in this world.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy New Year!!

A new year is so exciting to me. A time to start fresh and celebrate the potential we see within ourselves. This year my list of resolutions grows with each day. Here are a few I'll share:

• Eat cookies on the weekends only
• Pay cash for groceries (when it's gone, it's gone)
• Run a 10k this spring
• Attend the temple at least monthly
• Learn to cook five good meals
• Go on a hike with my children each month
• Study my scriptures sitting up at my desk each day (so I don't fall asleep)
• Go on a date with my handsome husband each month
• Spend more time reflecting on the blessings from above
• Take new pictures of my kiddos and update this blog!

Perhaps I'm a bit ambitious as this is just a few that I'm planning on working through this year. But just for today I'm going to move full steam ahead and then tomorrow I'll do it and then the next and hopefully in a few weeks, then months I'll be more of where I need to be. Hooray for the possibilities of change!!

The Christmas Spirit

My sister tuned me into this a few days ago and I finally sat down for three minutes and watched it with my little ones this morning. It's a simple youtube video from lds.org that reminded me what a spiritual time of year this can be.

The Christmas Spirit

Our Life...

In Pictures.

These six little cousins spent a perfect day at the beach in Galveston. They still had energy to play hard at the hotel (though my sister and I were both pretty beat).

Camping on the beach is amazing and a great perk of living along the Gulf Coast.
Thanks Petty's for inviting us along.

Belle and "woof woof" showing you their version of a scary face.

Grandma Nae Nae came to visit (really to babysit the children)and so a trip to the aquarium was in order. Sierra loved riding the shark train.

Ahhh paradise! We are smiling only because this was after Hurricane Ida made us all very familiar with sea sickness. The Svetz were wonderful to vacation with.

A beautiful beach in Cozumel that I could have spent the entire day at. Instead I spent the majority of it asleep in the back of a taxi with the flu.

Feeling better and zip lining in Jamaica.

Playing Tarzan in Jamaica.

The pictures of Grand Cayman are on the water camera. Unfortunately due to all the storms, there wasn't time to scuba dive so we ended up snorkeling along the shore- still amazing and a place we definitely want to return to.

After nearly nine years it's wonderful to spend a week alone with the one you love.

Happy Thankgsiving!!