So far this summer

we've been doing a whole lotta whatever the heck we want.

It's been perfect.

no schedule.

no pick ups.

no drop offs.

no lessons.

no practices.

Just the way summer should be. 

This is what makes summer so great.

It's 9 o'clock in the morning and instead of sitting at a desk you are pushing your little sisters around in boxes around the house.

Fave mobile pic of the week.

We think that Clara folding her arms for prayer is adorable. And when she bows her head and mumbles a "prayer," well, that's about the cutest thing we've ever seen. I think you'd agree.

not much to do on rainy days like this.

Except look out the window watching it fall and play kissy face.

on my mind

Life is busy. Five little bodies are keeping me occupied. Some moments I enjoy the hectic life and other times I'm ready to pull my hair out. I have been thinking a lot about my priorities. Mainly, trying to ignore the things that pull me away from what's really important, the here and now. I am trying to focus on making memories and enjoying the spontaneity of life. Relishing in motherhood. Crumbs, laundry, diapers, all of it! Oh yes, it is sometimes easier said than done, but you already knew that.

Saturday

Earlier in the week Baden declared that Saturday would be "family fun day".   Even though we mowed, weeded and cleaned, it was OK because it was family fun day and we did everything together.  The day ended with a long (and breezy) bike ride and pizza.  I need to savor days like this because before I know it they'll be planning prom dates and scary stuff like that.  I think every Saturday will be family fun day.

The great escape.

I looked out my kitchen window Saturday afternoon and I noticed Chandler digging dirt in the garden area.  Then I saw him slip under the fence.  I hurried and grabbed my camera and am I ever glad I did!  This sequence has got to be the best I've ever captured.  His facial expressions are not to be beat.  First, the cautious I hope mom and dad aren't around, the I'm safe, the dang I've been caught and I'll be busted and finally the I'm probably going to be OK because mom is taking pictures and smiling.  Now, I know that it is common for people's dogs to dig a hole under the fence to escape, but it never occurred to me that children might attempt the same.  Is life really that confining around here?  Is everyone's Saturdays this entertaining?

It was a good day.

WHO BREAKS OUT THE SLIP AND SLIDE IN MAY WHEN IT'S 75 DEGREES OUTSIDE?

WE DO!

Happiness is found in the water and sun for my kids.

DINING AL FRESCO?  OUR FAVORITE!

The clean-up that awaits my better half upon his return from church meetings.  I love you dear :)

Kate's favorites.

Kate and I were enjoying this exceptionally beautiful day in the backyard this afternoon on the swings. I spontaneously started asking her favorite things questions and thought I'd better keep note of them.

What is your favorite thing to do? PLAY
What is your favorite song? I AM A CHILD OF GOD
What is your favorite food? SOUP
What is your favorite thing to wear? CLOTHES
What is your favorite smell? FOOD
What is your favorite show? I LOVE LUCY
What is your favorite color? PINK
What is your favorite thing about your world? TREES, I LOVE THEM. (she's a tree hugger and I didn't even know it!)

She was quick to answer as if she'd already thought of the answers to these deep questions...Very enlightening!

mommy & girls

It wasn't too long ago I didn't think I'd ever have any daughters. And now I have two. It makes me so happy. Oh, so happy. I love having boys, but little girls are so fun and they don't mind putting their church dress back on and posing for a picture with their momma.

I shared my favorite Mother's Day gift over on my sister's blog today.  Click on over here to read all about it.  She's had guest bloggers sharing Mother's Day gift ideas all week.  When you take a look at the line-up she's had you might wonder how I got roped into it.  Maybe she was desperate, or maybe she saved the best for last.  I'll never tell.

    

Faking it.

Chandler stayed home from school today with a "stomach ache".  By about 9:00 a.m. I had him all figured out.  I called his bluff and told him that he can't fool me.  And then, he smiled.  What's a mother to do? Well, this mother is going to let him finish that book that I am sure brought on the sudden illness.  

We'll call it "Spring Fever."  

(notice the bowl...I gave him that when I still thought he was legitimately sick)

Mini-golf

We'll have to make this one of those "don't tell Carson and Chandler you got to do this" secrets...or daddy for that matter.

11 years

Brian and I were married 11 years ago today. Instead of lounging on a sandy beach miles from here, we are doing the same old. The same old that makes up this crazy, chaotic and happy life we both wouldn't trade for anything. Lucky us. Eleven years down eternity to go. Happy anniversary darling.

Nine

(my laptop cord is on the blitz, so this iphone post/pic will have to do)

All of this children growing up on me business has got to stop! Chandler turned nine today and is starting to show signs that he is growing up. As we were walking into Applebees this afternoon he said, "Mom, will you just promise me one thing? Don't tell them it's my birthday." I kept my promise.

Tonight I made his regular requested birthday dinner: sweet and sour chicken and chocolate cake. Afterwards, we all said some things we like about our Chan-man. Grandpa Woodward said it best; "we can always tell when Chandler is happy, (then a little under his breath) and when he's not." He's been  that way since day one!

Hard to believe we'll be sending him off on his mission in a short 10 years. I just hope the next 9 years slows down a little. We love our Chandler and all that personality that has kept us entertained all these years. 

My baby is one.

I didn't know I'd be so sad. It is a good thing she looks like she is only 9 months old.

She really wanted the cupcake. 

Then we started singing.  Singing always makes her quit screaming.

A year old already! I'm so glad that I spent so much time on the couch holding her those first few months.

Happy Birthday baby Clara and my sister Chelsea!

Kate's new dress.

For a little girl who is already planning her wedding, getting a new dress to wear to church is thrilling. My mom was going to buy her a new dress for her birthday last month, but at the end of the day we came up empty handed. Everything was too trendy, low quality and not girlie enough. So to Joann's it was. I think the dress is perfect, and most importantly, Kate does too. It has me convinced that sewing is the way to go. Maybe we could get a pattern swap going on...

Ding dong the blog's been dead.

Warmer weather, fussy baby, 300+ baked and frosted sugar cookies,

reading, sleepless nights because of fussy baby, trying to keep up and

not keeping up, practices, laundry, dishes, and overall craziness of

some not to be mentioned children that I swear is a result of spring

has got me counting down the days until summer vacation and not

blogging. However, last night, Brian and I went to the temple and what do you

know, all my problems were solved and I'm sufficiently renewed. Bring

on the weekend!

 (Clara, during a bright spot in her week yesterday at the park.)

These are the days.

These are all the pictures that I took of my children on Sunday before we left to church. Not a one of them would be considered fit for a magazine. But to me, they are perfect. I'm sure that one day when each of them have left my little nest I'll get teary eyed remembering the cute things they said, the little tantrums they had and what an ordeal it was to get them all ready for church all by myself while daddy was at his church meetings. These will be the good old days for sure.

the scoop.

You may not know it, but while some can't keep their children outside, I can't keep mine inside.  I think it may be because 3 boys in a row close together means you always have someone to play with???  So with the constant kicking of a soccer ball or throwing the baseball around we are discovering we have outgrown our yard.  And so, we're looking to upsize our yard for these growing boys.  It also won't hurt to have some more work for them to do around the yard as they get older and more capable.  We have no clue where, not far for sure, but selling our house is the first order of business. 

Some like it hot.

The new breakfast of champions. Chips and salsa.

For Sale

Children not included.

Remember how I'm trying to have greater patience? Well, that is why
I'm laying next to Kate in my bed at 8:30pm instead of doing other
things that indeed aren't as important.

Five

It was the most anticipated birthday to date.  He had his primary class at church counting down, he had his preschool class counting down and you better believe that everyone at home knew how many days till the big day.  And so at 6:30 am on Friday he was knocking away on the wall of his bedroom no doubt summoning for his breakfast in bed.  I went to his room and sure enough, there he was sitting up in bed humming "happy birthday to you" eagerly awaiting his requested Honey Bunches of Oats with strawberries on the side.  And what were the wishes of this five year old on his birthday you might ask?  Go to the egg farm and give a tour to his friend Owen (a tour not to be outdone I understand), play a computer game on dad's computer, borrow the wii from grandma and get a transformer.  All those wishes came true so I suppose it was a success.  And really, it's already been FIVE years?!  We love this boy.

happy

This picture I took of my baby Clara today makes me happy.  Because she is happy!  The antibiotics she started on Friday are doing their job and she has gotten relief from the ear pain that she's had for who knows how long.  She's been trying my patience.  But it's not her fault.

Speaking of patience.  Our family home evening lesson tonight was on patience.  Because it's a lesson we all needed.  And when it came to bedtime the children were mighty lucky that their parents had just given that particular lesson!  We gleaned our lesson material from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's recent sermon on patience he gave during the Priesthood session of General Conference.  If you're looking for some extra inspiration on the subject yourself go here for the video.  The first part is particularly interesting. 

On Break.

It's not even the 1st of April and I'm taking a little hiatus from my blog-a-day resolution.

Happy Spring Break all.

Daily Inspiration.

My sister-in-law Kendra gets the credit for sending this to me tonight.
Takes a bit to load, but you will be glad you watched it.

You're welcome.

It's Official.

I now have 5 children capable of making messes. Where's my maid?

5:20 pm

Countdown starts when we pull in the garage from picking the boys up after school.  It's the favorite time of day for all 5 of them you can be sure.  Mom just doesn't cut it.  Maybe I gripe a little when they are pulling my husband out the door after a day free of adult conversation, but at a score of 5 to 1 I loose every time.  That's what date night is for anyway I suppose.

dentist

This is Kate with Cousin-Uncle-Doctor-Dentist-Lance last week at our family dental check-ups.
The kids aren't really sure what they are suppose to call him.  It's different every time. 
Lucky for us we were cavity free!  If only we had similar luck when we take them to the ENT.

A little trick.

To get your 3 year old to nap, you have to pretend that she doesn't have to take a nap. Works like a charm every time.

in case you missed it.

 our cougs were victorious today.

check it out.

This is what a dad showing his sons a YouTube video of a cool piano player looks like. 

Sometimes you just need a little inspiration.  

Suddenly, practicing the piano isn't "lame". 

Dear 70 Degrees in March:

Please come in and stay awhile. 

Love,
Mother of Five.

PS.  Make sure you don't go away during Spring Break.  Or, I might have a Break-down.

New skills.

This afternoon I thought I had better start teaching Baden how to ride
a bike sans training wheels. So I pulled out our 10 in. trusty bike
salvaged from a dumpster that the 2 older boys learned on and prepared
myself for some frustration. Baden got on the bike, I held the seat
and off he went. Just like that! Two seconds tops. Five minutes
later we took the training wheels off the 16 in. Batman bike and the
rest is history. We're pretty sure he's gifted ;).

At the ballet

Her favorite part? Dancing on stage during the intermission.
Her least favorite part? The prince.  (she said it, not me.)

Future Kindergartener

Baden just got 5 shots for Kindergarten. He
giggled his way through all FIVE of them. No joke.
Have you ever heard of such a thing?

Chandler's letter to his dad.

We have a new little treasure to file away. 

Isn't it awesome when our growing boys can pen such heartfelt sentiments. Goofy one minute, sweet the next. Totally unpredictable.

33

(photo: You Look Nice Today)

12 of those have been with me. Lucky me!

Happy Birthday, my dear.  No one I'd rather have by my side.

She's 3!

Sometimes I wonder

Am I growing up to be what I want her to grow up to be?

"Women of God can never be like women of the world. The world has enough women who are tough; we need women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse; we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude; we need women who are refined. We have enough women of fame and fortune; we need more women of faith. We have enough greed; we need more goodness. We have enough vanity; we need more virtue. We have enough popularity; we need more purity."

"The Joy of Womanhood," Ensign, Nov. 2000, 14.

If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.

I just read an article this morning that will be on my mind all day long (plus some). 
A bit lengthy, but well worth your time. 
Just click here to read.  So inspiring.

mystery

I'd like to know who swiped my camera this afternoon and took these pictures. No one here is fessing up to it. But my gut tells me he's four, has green eyes and doesn't like anything a cook.

Wolf.

I am still trying to come to grips with the fact that for a solid 7 years we will be going to pack meeting.

Oh boy(s)!

You know what this means don't you?

(well besides the fact they didn't finish their sandwiches...)

It means spring is in the air and children can resume eating lunch outside on the patio.

One of the top 10 reasons warm weather is my favorite.

Hip Hip Hooray!

kissing cousins

I think this is what you call: denied.