Weekly Trade

You know how in different phases of your life, different places that you live each one holds memories that are so dear, you know you will miss them when the next phase comes. I look back on my newlywed years with some of the fondest memories. Eric and I alone in our tiny apartment eating Mike and Ike's watching King of Queens. Driving to work each morning stopping at the North Ogden Sonic for a diet vanilla coke. Thoughts of our Kentucky home are a treasured memory. My little mommy group each Tuesday morning, oh how I miss those dear friends. Kroger right down the road where every night either Eric or I would stop by for an ice cream run and bring it home to one another. And I know one day when we are no longer living in Cache Valley I will have a boatload of things I loved while living here. Memories I will pull up and say "ahhhh, that was the good old days."

One of them is being near this little lady. My Granny what a blessing to have her so nearby. We take care of each other. I like knowing the ins and outs of her life. I like knowing her dear friend Carol Perks. I like knowing it's women society lunch on Tuesday's, her church at 9 on Sunday's, I like when nobody knows where Granny is I usually can say "oh it's Monday, she's getting her hair done, call her later". My children adore her, nothing thrills me more than to hear my Luke yell "Grammy", as he greets her with a huge bear hug. Saying we are going to Granny's house is met with as much enthusiasm as saying we are going to Disneyland. No lie.......these kids would eat that little Gran right up. And so would I, she is a dear to me. I treasure these years we have together, my kids have the greatest relationship I think a great grandmother and her great grand kids could ever have. What a gift for them to have the rest of their lives, dear memories of their Granny O.

We have a weekly date her and I. Every Monday we head to McDonald's for lunch. We chat, the kids play, and after we head back to Grans so I can help her with whatever she needs. Yesterday it was vacuuming her house, the week before that it was running some errands. It's a great trade she buys lunch and I vacuum. And there is no sense in even arguing with her that maybe one week I could buy. She slaps my hand away so fast and tells me she won't invite me anymore if I don't let her pay.

Every week I get the Asian Chicken Salad.....it's not too bad you should try it sometime.

Every week the boys are more concerned with their Happy Meal toy than they are with their chicken nuggets.

Yesterday this girl tried out a straw for the first time, with her first taste of soda pop.

And here's what she thought of it.....

Thankfully she recovered.

Many hours have been spent playing at the Smithfield McDonald's. It's quiet, and clean and our all time favorite McDonald's.

Yup, these Monday's will always be a treasure.

I sure love this little lady......

The Youngest

Back in March I started some serious spring cleaning.

I was going to go through all closets and organize.

I was going to scrub all floor boards, blinds and walls.

I was going to deep clean everything.

I was going to move furniture and vacuum behind it.

I was going to start with our master closet.

Then I was going to move on to our bathroom.

Our bedroom.

The laundry room.

The boys bathroom.

The office.

The boys room.

Katelynn's room.

Then I was going to move downstairs.

I was going to have it all finished by June just in time for our summer fun.

So I did start with our closet, and so far I have accomplished......

Get ready for it.....

OUR CLOSET!!

And you want to know why that's all I have accomplished.

One word.

Katelynn.

She's at a fun age.

Book throwing, toilet paper shredding, cereal smashing, toilet water playing.....kind of fun age.

Her favorite hang outs include under the bathroom cabinet.

Bonus when the boys leave the pantry door open, which is, oh every time.

"Oh hey mom I love your hair products.......just dreaming of the day I need a little root lifter."

And on the up chance that anyone is coming to catch her, she has learned the best way to stay hidden is out of sight out of mind. She shuts herself into trouble all the time......closing doors and being destructive is a most favorite past time.

"No dad, I don't want to snuggle, those DVD's are calling my name".

"What's that, you guys actually need this bag of old clothes, I thought it was a toy, meant just for me."

And on the rare occasion that she is unable to conquer a goal.......no worries......help is always given when needed.

Little girl it's a darn good thing you are so cute.

Cause you are absolutely killing your momma!

Spring cleaning only needs to be done like once every ten years, right?

Father's Day Weekend

Father's Day Weekend, how silly of me, five days ago and I am just now posting it. Crazy summer time is kicking my butt, fun of course but goodness is it too much to ask for just a few minutes to sit down and write up a gushy post for your dear husband/father of your children on Father's Day. I guess so......

So Eric will be pleased. You will get a post without all the mushiness. Cause I am tired and ready to go settle down with some mind numbing TV like The Bachelorette which in my opinion is lame this season. But of course, I will still watch it. Cause I am lame like that too. And sometimes you really just need a healthy dose of the phrase "I am here for the right reasons, to find love".

I had big plans for the weekend, celebrating just one day was not going to cut it. So in this household Father's Day was celebrated both Saturday and Sunday. I tell you what, I am a keeper, such a thoughtful wife. Though if I am all for celebrating Father's Day Weekend, how come Eric can't fall into line with celebrating my birthday week.......hmmm....answer me that? I will let you know his answer to that mind provoking question.

We started out Saturday with strawberry cream cheese crepes. Oh goodness, they were good, along with some greasy strips of bacon and we were one happy family.

Then things got a little yucky, poor Eric had to do yard work! On Father's Day or one of them anyway. So I made it up to him that night......

Granny came over , we set the boys up with their favorite "blue dinners", tucked Katelynn in for the night and me and this guy.....

headed off to dinner.........

here.

Okay this place was right up my alley, just dripping with atmosphere. Cause that is what I look for most when dining, I love love love a good cozy atmosphere. Especially on a warm summer evening, with a coke in my hand (because of course a good night is never without a coke), and a lovely spread of food before me.

Doesn't take much to make me happy.

Now doesn't that look good?

That concluded Saturday, now onto Sunday. I printed out these little worksheets for the boys to fill out about their dad. I just love stuff like that, their answers just about killed me. So sweet and yet so hilarious. Luke in particular had some winners.

For instance:

How tall is your dad? Really really not very tall.

How much does your dad weigh? Really really not very strong.

What is your dad's favorite food? Hot dogs (Eric loathes hot dogs).

What is your dad really good at? Eating with a spoon.

(oh man he kills me)!

A few Lance favorites:

What is your dad's favorite thing to do? Guitar with me.

What does your dad do at work? Help the bishop. I think he is confused between work and his church calling, makes me smile.

What is your dad's favorite drink? Coke.

If you know Eric you know how funny that is. Eric's arch Nemesis is Coke. He loathes it.

As you can see the Coke joke went over really well.

Then it was time for presents. The kids and I got Eric an ice cream maker. Which I failed to get a picture of, but don't be alarmed we plan on putting it to good use this weekend. You can bet I will take some pictures of our home made goodness for you all to see.

Next up we quickly made our favorite batch of chocolate chip cookies to take to all of the dads we love along with their presents. And I ate about 8 cookies in dough alone......

Baby K finally joined us for some fun after her afternoon slumber.

We headed to Grandpa and Grandma Smith's for some more celebrating, dinner and of course fun in the hammock.

Love Lance's expression in this here picture....

And love Luke's smile in this here picture.

Then we headed onto my dads house to spend some time with him.

And yeah let's talk about this lame picture. I think I have mentioned my sensitive eye issues here on this blog. Ever since a baby I have screamed my head off when my poor little eyes were exposed to the sun. Let's talk about the fact that it was an overcast day, at 9 pm, the sun was practically down and yet I still can't find the strength to open my eyes for a decent picture with my dad. Just don't mind my stupid expression.

I am so lame.

Okay maybe just a little gushing. Cause come on on Father's Day I am allowed to gush just a little bit.

For rough housing our boys.

For coddling our girl.

For being fiercely protective of these babies.

For bedtime stories.

For late night cuddles.

For soothing bad dreams.

For remembering fluoride when I forget (day after day after day).

For Father's Blessings.

For coaching T ball teams.

For Saturday morning waffles.

For Ready Set Go.

For Phineas and Ferb.

For laughing at silly Coke jokes.

For teaching hard work and hard play.

For never failing at Family Prayer.

For attending therapy sessions....

For knowing inside and out the way these babies minds work.

For knowing their strengths.

For knowing their weaknesses.

For praising.

For teaching.

For writing primary talks.

For spending 8 hours in the middle of the night researching which brand of hearing aids to get.

For teaching them to talk to their father in heaven in prayer.

For all this and so much more, I fall to my knees every night and count my blessings for the man my children call daddy.

We love you......Happy Father's Day.

Family Home Evening

Monday nights.......my favorite.

(and yes we did celebrate Father's Day, pictures coming soon, I just can't seem to catch up this ol' blog!)