Lexi's Preschool Graduation

Man! My baby girl is going to kindergarten next year! Thank goodness its not all day because I am not ready for her to be gone yet. Or really ever. Lexi is so witty and funny. She is sweet and caring and so sensitive and feels so bad when she makes someone  upset or sad. She often asks pretty deep questions and likes to throw big words into her conversation. Her word of the month is "nearly" and she uses it to describe everything. Its so cute. She is catching onto reading and can read some books all by herself. I am beyond proud of this girl and I love her SO much!!

 She had the best teacher, MRS. KRISTI (she is also my friend and I do her hair).

Random

I found Lexi asleep like this one night. Thats a big stuffed animal to choose to sleep with.

 TJ went to Hawaii for a work trip. WITHOUT ME! I guess I'm not too jealous since he spent most his time inside a hotel ballroom. But still....

 We adopted a new orange cat to replace the lost one. Her name is Cleo. The kids are all afraid of her and no one will hold her. They all wanted a kitty, or some kind of pet but really I just don't think my kids are animal people.

 My mom came into town to visit and one night we went out to eat at Gingers Garden Cafe here in Springville. Everything there is local, free range, organic and gluten free. The perfect place to take my mom out to so that she would actually eat. It was actually really good and I would love to go again. Tj thought it was good too but wasn't a fan of the pretty penny it cost to eat there. A date wouldn't be so bad. Maybe not the whole family again. I even made my kids eat dinner before we went to eat dinner. They are pretty good about wasting food and money. So they got to order smoothies which they all love.

 Chloe did amazing at her book night! She looked the part (the girl in the book) and she did great reciting her spill (that she memorized) on why you should read her book. She has made BIG jumps since last year I don't think she would have done it. Especially not with a smile.

 I attempted potty training this boy. He did ok the first day, but then I got sick and couldn't get up off the couch to help and follow him around. So back in the diaper he went. Really I JUST DON"T WANT TO DO IT!

 The kids think its awesome to play in the back of dads truck. I think they think they are pretty cool

 For Memorial Day we went to Grandpa and Grandma Lee's house for dinner. Grandpa had tons of decorations and favors for the kids to wear and put all over the house.

The Soules family and the Payson Temple open house

Carol, her mom and Heather were in town for a wedding and it was so good to catch up with them! Heather is finally back from her mission. She is an amazing girl. She has had THE hardest up bringing and family life (seriously) but as a young girl in the middle of all that she would walk herself to church and sit alone and bear her testimony on fast Sundays. She is a rock and I love her and consider her and Carol family. And I'm pretty sure they feel they are family too. I love this family and learn so much from them and I am so glad that we were able to be here for them and be the rocks they needed. Its hard having them in AZ now. I spend some long nights coloring and cutting hair for a wedding that weekend.

We also got to go to the Payson Temple open house. The kids were pretty excited to go into a temple for the first time ever. They especially loved the little booties that went over their shoes. It was such a great experience with a lot of questions from the girls with a lot of teaching moments. 

The Wilkins moved

Turns out Kasen can sleep anywhere. I went to my friend Kristis house the other day to hang out and Kasen took a nap. It was quite nice to have him sleep and to talk with my friend like I used to everyday and let the other kids play. I sure do miss Kristi. I still have not written about her moving. It was kind of hard to think about for awhile there. And not that they have been gone that long but still. I really love Kristi. I love her because she is so dang young at heart! She is upbeat and peppy to talk to. She tells me everything and I her. She knows more about me than prob anyone. She brought me out of my shell and be friended me when I needed a friend the most. She is not a judger. She likes me for me and lets me in her house anytime and trusts me with her kids whenever and where ever and same goes for me. We can talk for hours and hours. We really dove into motherhood together and had all our babies right at the same time and all our kids are each others friends. So its great to babysit or whatever because it was never babysitting for either of us. I would do anything for her and I feel the same from her. We would sit on her driveway as the little kids played in the water table. We would set up pools and slip and slides in her front yard everyday. We would go to my backyard or front steps whenever we weren't doing that. She is my great friend and the best neighbor and I am incredibly sad to have her gone. I have gone to her new house a few times and we still meet up and do stuff with the kids and she asked if in the summer she could still come hang out. Its been nice since her kids are still at Westside we run into each other when picking up kids and since Lexi and Ashli are still in preschool in the neighborhood together. I am afraid for next year tho. Its only a matter of time where the distance fades everything and with the kids not seeing each other often they might not want to play. Sometimes I feel like they are just on vacation. And I don't feel like she has ten years on me. It feels like we are the same age. The day they moved Lexi cried and cried. Tallie and Chloe have also shed their share of tears. When Lexi and I watched the moving truck pull up we both just sat there and cried. Its sad because a huge chapter in my life just closed. Might sound stupid but its more than just kristi leaving its the kids are older. The water table and playdates we shared are ending. Its the young little family growing up. I am SO blessed and grateful to have lived here

 Lexi refused to take any "last" pictures with her BFF.

 (Chloe and Haeli, age 7)

 (Maili and Tallie, age 9)

these past 9 or so years and having the experience we had. I know that building and living in this house right when we did was not coincidence. I needed Kristi and the Lord knew it.

On moving day I spent hours helping her pack her kitchen and practically every other room in her house. After which I spent hours then cleaning the empty house.

Lexi's gymnastic performance

Lex was pretty stoked about showing me all the things she has been learning in gymnastics (even tho I watch her at every practice). She said it was the best day ever! And she did so well and had so much fun.

 I had to throw in her little play doh creation she made.

If you can't tell (you must be blind) but its the arch in Moab and the little trail markers made out of stones all around. You know so you can get there with out getting lost. 

She also had her preschool carnival day. I'm sad the year is ending but so ready for summer break with all my kiddos. 

3rd grade track meet

It was so fun to watch Tallie today! Despite the fact that we sat out in the freezing wind for 4 hours and my feet going numb it was great. The first day they started running at school Tallie came home and said it was the worst day ever. She could barely make it around the field and had to walk and her legs felt like jello and like she might pass out. WHOA! I told her it would get easier the more she did it and she just needed to move her body more regularly so it would never be this hard. Well just last week she came home saying she ran around the field almost 6 times only walking a little and she never complained of sore legs. See what a little training can do? She ran the 200 and did it in 39 sec and I seriously got so choked up watching her! I just love her and watching her run her little heart out. Good job Tallie!

Bangs

Tallie was feeling pretty wild last night and she talked me into giving her bangs. Nothing too dramatic but she loves them and the change she was looking for.

I am a mother

You know sometimes it doesn't really hit me that I AM A MOTHER. I mean I know that I am, I have four kids who I feed and bathe and watch over and take to school and all of that. That is the picture that is right in front of my face most of the time. Sometimes the BIG picture isn't always in my focus. And I love it when that comes into view. I love when I look at these sweet kids and see their spirits and see their potential and all of their worth. When I see that they were sent to me to teach them. To help them remember their Father in Heaven. To teach them and help them get to know their Savior Jesus Christ. When I realize "I am molding and shaping their lives". It's a heavy responsibility. It's a lot to take in. But I LOVE IT SO MUCH! Today they helped me realize that for me to be the best mom for them, to help them get thru this earthly mission, I need to work on me. I need to constantly be reading my scriptures. I need to be more sincere and in depth with my personal prayers and to pray more specifically for each of my kids during family prayer so they can hear it. I need to bring more gospel conversations into our daily conversations. I need to ponder and shut off distractions so I can listen and be open to any promptings that need to come my way. I love these guys so much and for all they constantly are teaching me!

TJ left for a work trip this morning (Hawaii of all places) and so its just been us today. Tessa asked us to go to the nursing home with her to sing songs and hand out cookies. I was hesitant but told her we would go. I really wasn't sure if I was going to be able to get my kids there without a fight. They are on the shy, nervous side so I was surprised when Tallie and the rest really wanted to go. We made some cookies and then headed over. We stayed for like 2 hours! The kids did great and talked and played ping pong and cards with some. They sang a few songs, I played some songs on the piano. They loved it and they can't wait to go back! They want to paint pictures with all their names on them to hang in their rooms and Tallie wants to play some songs on the piano. I am so proud of these girls for going out of their comfort zone. These people we visited were so happy to have us and asked us to come again soon. This for sure will be a more regular thing for us and many FHE's in the future.

A wonderful gift on Mother's Day!

My little nuggets

Here is our morning ride to school...the kids bundled up in the bike trailer.

 This makeover was compliments of Lexi on a rainy, I'm bored, kind of day.

And this little guy is having trouble sleeping and being awake from sleeping. I don't know what the deal is but I sure hope that whatever it is passes soon. But every now and then, just like the old Kasen, instead of crying and being grumpy when he wakes up, all he wants to do is snuggle. And I WILL TAKE THAT!