Catching Up

I've been a terrible blogger lately.  If only you all knew the different blog posts I've written up in my head and planned to post or the pictures I've taken with the intent to tell a story... I don't know where the time has gone and somehow in the last few months I've found myself more and more behind on everything.  I blame it partly on my little one officially giving up on naps and along with that wanting to be by my side 24/7.  I haven't had to be a playmate like this since Linsey was a toddler. My kids are growing up so fast, there's more homework, more carpools, more shoes piled up by every door, later bedtimes, and longer talks.   I love this stage in parenting.  I find that I am less concerned about what is going on around me and more concerned about what is going on in the walls of my very own home.  These people are what's most important and everything else seems to fall into place when I meet the needs of my family first.  No more diapers or waking up during the night, their needs are different now.  I love that we can talk about friends and situations at school and what it's like to feel the spirit.  I love that my girls love to go shopping with me.  I love watching my children excel in sports, music, and dance or whatever else they have going on.  I love, love, love that Linsey can babysit and that she is so responsible and does a fabulous job.  I love how much my children love Milo, (and I love that we lucked out with a really good puppy).


So, our big announcement is ......... we are building a new home!  It's not far from where we live now, less than a mile away.  Here is our lovely corner lot.  This picture was taken on January 31st, the day we told our children the big news.

 They broke ground a few days later and this is what it looks like today.

The finish date is July 22nd.  We can hardly wait!

Here are some of the other things we have been up to, in no particular order.

Linsey participated in the Jr. Music Festival (piano) and the Solo and Ensemble Festival (violin) and received top scores at both!

We've watched Hunter play a lot of sports.  He has had an indoor soccer game, an outdoor soccer game, and a basketball game most Saturdays.  In January he played flag football on Monday nights and really LOVED that.  He loves sports and is becoming quite the athlete.


Austin and I went to tri-cities for a quick visit in February.  My mom and dad spoiled Austin with attention.  He especially loved this doctor kit and my dad was the best patient ever.

In January someone broke into my car.  This was a first for us, never had anything like this happen before.  It was a pretty awful feeling to walk out to my car after being at the dentist with Emma to see this.


They emptied out the center console and tossed out all of the headphones (probably disappointed there wasn't anything more valuable in there), and left the glove box hanging open.  Thankfully there wasn't anything left in the car that they could steal, but the mess and violating feeling still left us a little shaken up.

All four of my kids have gone to the same preschool and they have all been lucky enough to have Miss Cindy for a teacher.  I've been to the fire station with each of them and I've loved it every time.
 

Those big trucks and the fire hose are just so exciting to these little people, their eyes light up.  I love it!

I love holidays and Valentines' Day is no exception.  We started off this year with a yummy breakfast, which was more like dessert..

...and ended the day with a festive candle light dinner which has become a tradition in our house.  It actually started when the kids were young and since Valentines' Day is a popular night to go out there were long waits at restaurants and it was hard to get a babysitter.  Jared and I would feed the kids a quick dinner and then put them to bed a little early.  We'd pull out the china and candles and sparkling cider and grill steaks and have a delicious dinner, just the two of us.  Well, the last few years the kids have gotten older and now it's turned into a family dinner, we skipped the china this year but turning off the lights and lighting the candles is pretty exciting, my kids love it.
 

During the day Austin and I got to go help out Emma's class with their Valentine Party!

 

Austin is really into hiding these days.  I often hear him calling me with a muffled voice, "Mom - come and find me!!"  He also loves to make forts.  I'm not sure which he was doing this particular day, but I realized it was pretty quiet and I hadn't seen Austin for awhile so I went searching.  I saw a bunch of blankets under the dining room table and when I looked closer...

I found him fast asleep..

I may never be caught up on everything, but I hope that I can always find satisfaction in the many blessings that I am surrounded by daily.  I'm grateful for all the snuggles and hugs from my little ones, the small successes at school, a hard earned 100% on a spelling test, or reaching that reading goal.  I'm grateful for the chance I get to work with the Young Women at church, my daughter included.  I love working on the Personal Progress program together and it's given us the opportunity to have some great conversations.  I love that I have a wonderful husband who is so supportive and loving and doesn't complain when I leave stacks of papers on the back kitchen counter for days on end.   (the kids bring home a never ending stream of papers and they are all in piles of varying importance...)  And I love that I get to spend my days with Austin.  He and I are buddies and I adore him just as much as he adores me!