Impatience

I was genuinely excited to check on my garden today after being away for three days. I knew there would be weeds to pull, but mostly I couldn't wait to see which seeds had sprouted. I get giddy over sprouting seeds this time of year. For some reason my pumpkin patch was only green from weeds rather than the small green pumpkin leaves I expected. Suddenly I became impatient. Where are my seedlings? I knelt down and gently started brushing away dirt from my little pumpkin mounds. Still no plants, so I brushed harder. Soon I was down to the bottom of one mound and in frustration I wiped a little too hard, uprooting a small, but healthy little pumpkin sprout. I tried to replant it, but the tender roots probably won't survive my mishandling. I started thinking about life in general. I hope I'm not the only one that sometimes gets so impatient waiting for good things to happen that I "uproot" the start of something worthwhile. I vow to be more patient - to wait for good things and enjoy the anticipation of watching for the first "little sprout to stick it's head out of the dirt." It is always worthwhile.

A Tootie Tot and other Graduation Highlights

Emma did it - she graduated from Preschool!! She also sang "A Tootie Tot" with such cuteness that she made her momma proud.Graduation featured some singing, some nose picking and some solo speaking parts. Emma did a great job with her part. The whole graduation was very cute and quite delightful for those in attendance who love these little sweethearts.

Emma fully enjoyed her teachers, her friends and all the fun things she got to do this year, but we're on to bigger things now. She can't wait to ride the school bus and have recess!

Rain Walk

Quote from Emma: "I love it when the rain is hot." I do too! Sooo, we went for a walk, complete with puddle jumping, in the hot spring rain a couple days ago.

Shhh, Dont Tell

Shhhh, don't tell the picky eater in my house that there were pureed carrots in today's delicious CHEESY WORMS. Snack time was extra fun today. When the timer went off to tell us bake time was over I heard four little feet running....that's right running to get their snacks. One said "mmm, yummy worms" and the other one said "delish." Sadly, daddy won't get to eat any cheesy worms when he gets home because they were devoured.

Birthmother's Day

Today is Birthmother's Day. Every year on the day before Mother's Day we celebrate the love and sacrifice of birth mothers. In particular our family honors two beautiful young women on this day. We remember and honor our children's birth mothers. My heart is so full when I think of these two women. Each of them is amazing. They mean so much to us. I feel blessed to have them in our lives. Being a mother is my greatest joy on this earth and I am only able to be a mother because of these two women. I am so grateful that my children can always know that they are in our family because of the deep love that their birth mothers have for them. We love you so much J and C!!!

Two Years Ago on This Day

Two years ago today Dave and I witnessed the entrance of this perfect little son of our Heavenly Father into the world. While the birth of every child is a miracle, being able to be there for the birth of this one was more than miraculous for me. It was beautiful.












Now Nathan is a pancake eating, CARS movie loving, tantrum throwing, scooter riding, mommy and daddy helping, monkey face making, camouflage bandaide wearing, ball tossing, dishwasher starting, big sister teasing, full-fledge 2-YEAR OLD....and TODAY WE CELEBRATED. Happy Birthday, Nathan!

Hanging Out in the Country

There are some things that you will only find in the country. I for one feel like the country is some how in my blood. Every time I return to the place where I grew up I fill my spare time with wondering through the fields, walking on canal banks, visiting the local reservoir, enjoying the sunrises and sunsets etc. Emma and Nathan get to come along. My little family and I have been here in this small Idaho country town for over a week and we have traversed the local scenary several times. It is peaceful and relaxed here. People just move at a slower pace. I love it.

Early in the week a farmer friend of ours came to visit and invited Emma and Nathan to help him do the chores. They fed the baby calves, rode the 4-wheeler, looked for fish in the creek, pet the horses, rode the horses and came back with big grins on their faces. My favorite moment was when we were all riding in the farmer's dirty old pick-up truck out in the pasture. Our friend turned to Emma and said "it's time for you to drive." He jumped out of the truck and turned the steering wheel over to my 5-year old. The only instruction he gave Emma was to not drive into the creek. While Emma started making s-shapes with the slow moving truck I did a quick assessment to see how quickly I could get to the brakes if we came to a fence. No worries though. The farmer was fully aware of where we were. He paid Emma 25 cents for driving the truck. Nathan got 25 cents for being cute.

Nathan's favorite thing at Grandma's and Grandpa's house is this old and very friendly dog, "Rudy." These two go everywhere together and Nathan makes sure Rudy gets lots of doggy treats.
When the neighbors heard that we would be here for awhile they brought over toys for the kids. This classic tricycle has been up and down my mom's new ramp (built by the High Priest Group in her ward while she was in the hospital for 41 days) many times. Emma and Nathan think it is the best!