Mothers Day

 I love being a mother to these 4 beautiful children! They teach me and stretch me in so many ways. I am also so thankful for all the women in my life who help to mother my children---their grandma's, aunts, teachers, and friends mom's. It takes a village and I am thankful they are surrounded and blessed by so many wonderful women!

 For mother's day, the kids each got to pick out some flowers to plant in my pot on the front porch.

Just a simple reminder on my front porch how each one of my children are different and each come with their own personalities, challenges, and character that makes them who they are!

On a side note....we have baby birds in our backyard! Last week Austin was trying to look at them but the mother bird would not budge from the nest. He asked why won't the mother bird fly away even though we get so close to her? I explained that she is protecting those baby birds with her life if necessary because that is what mothers do! Happy Mother's Day!

#everydayismothersday  #dontmesswithmammabird

Kiddie Park is Open!

We made a trip out to Kiddie Park early this season while the weather was still nice and cool.

 We started the night with the roller coaster! Brooklyn loved it!

 Brooklyn's friends Lincoln and Anderson came with us. Brooklyn putting her hands up like a pro!

 I love her expressions. You can tell she was loving every minute of it!

 Katelyn was loving the car ride!!!

 

 My friend Jane was kind even to go with Mikayla on the spinning barrels. I don't do spinning rides!

 They got themselves going pretty quick!

Ending the night on the train!

Tornado Thursday

 One late Thursday afternoon in May the tornado sirens went off as the storms were rolling in. After turning on the news, it looked like we were going to be safe but decided it was a good idea to take cover anyways--shoes, helmets, blankets and all!!

 Katelyn had no clue what was going on but she enjoyed the snacks!

A couple hours later I went outside and the sky looked like this!

The Rest of April

General Conference Sunday morning session: Yes, it would be easier to send them to another room to play so we could watch and listen with less distraction but instead they join us with church coloring activities so help keep them happy. They may not really remember much of what is being said but hopefully they will at least recognize that listening to the prophet and apostles is a priority and important to us and that someday it will be just as important to them.

Sidewalk chalk is always entertaining.

And these girls were busy finding their own entertainment during their brother's soccer game.

Same with these cuties....their entertainment mostly involves food.

These boys got soaked while we watched the high school soccer game in the pouring rain.

Park time! Brooklyn is such a sweet helper with Katelyn!

We were amazed by this beautiful field of spring flowers as we were traveling in the car.

Easter egg hunt at our neighborhood park.

Play time at Sonic

Katelyn's first ice-cream in a cone instead of a cup and she was lovin' it!

On a rainy day we picked up a friend and went to Burger King to play.

Love these pictures that show their playful friendship and cute personalities!

Katelyn enjoys eating a slice bread.....just like her daddy does!

Enjoying the sprinkler under the trampoline on a warm day.

These boys spent the night and played the longest game of monopoly!

The Rest of March

 Eating lunch with Mikayla and Austin at school and enjoying the
school playground is always a treat!

 

 Making cookies with not just 1 helper but 4 is lots of fun!

 My little laundry helper

 The 2nd grade at Wayside got to go over to the YMCA during school one week for swim lessons.

 We introduced the Hyde family to bike riding on the pathfinder. We did about 5 miles on this day.

It was Katelyn's first long bike ride in the carrier. She did great!

 We had a baby shower for Kristi at the end of March.

 Mikayla and Kambria were invited to come and they were pretty excited about that!

They helped with the "guess how many M&M's in the bottle" game. 

 And Kristi kindly let them open most of the baby gifts. She got lots of cute stuff for baby girl!

 We surprised the girls with a date to the movies to watch the new Beauty and the Beast.

It was fantastic!

These guys biked all the way out to Dave's house which is about 7 miles from our house. We met up with them there and watched the movie "Sing" in his theater room!