Sunday Visits

They call this Barrel Yoga… it posseses more of a humorous healing property…. 







These girls had a wonderful evening playing house.



I got to have a lovely visit with their parents. We all enjoyed the long hours of sunshine. Sunday afternoon visits are good for the soul. 

Beth’s 4th Birthday

This little lady turned 4!

She was so excited the whole month leading up to her birthday. She had big plans to have a party and invite friends.

We compromised on an early morning breakfast so Dad could be there and a park play date with cupcakes.

It was raining that day do the park didn’t happen either, but she still had a great day! 

Her sisters made her gifts

and were excited to celebrate with her. 

Beth loves to bake and helped make these cupcakes requesting pink frosting and sprinkles.

One of her gifts was a balance bike to ride on the dirt roads. It has been a hit so far! 

Beth is such a joy to have in our family.

She is precocious in her thought patterns and fine

motor skills. She loves to read, laugh and play outside.

She is a great help with Jim and loves to ride the four wheeler. We love you Bethy!

This pic was snapped on her birthday while we waited for dance to be done. How cute are these sweet babes that are almost all the same age?

Natalie’s 9th Birthday

Natalie had her golden birthday this year. She was sure excited for it. With being a Harry Potter, a lot of it was themed around that. The Saturday before her birthday she was able to make use of a Wahooz pass she had earned from school. She and Justin had a fun date that day. 

Then on her actual birthday she had treats at school, hamburgers for dinner, chocolate cake and presents. We had my parents and grandma over. She was able t facetime Justin’s mom. It was a fun and busy day. 








I forgot to get the correct amount of candles, so we made it a bit of a math problem. 6+3. My dad was quick to remind us that she is at the halfway mark

of living in our home. It is so crazy! Time has flown, just like everyone said it would. 

The Saturday after her birthday she got together with a few friends to drink butter beer and watch Harry Potter. I sadly forgot to take pictures. Her and her friends dressed up and had a great time.

Natalie loves reading, friends, piano, chocolate and her family. She is very spiritual and has great faith in God. She works really hard at school and being a good example in our home. She is quick to forgive and tries to help here at home. She loves to write stories and little jingles. My favorite she wrote is about Tapatio, the hot sauce. Natalie teaches me how to be more kind, aware of others feelings, and to smile. How I love her! Happy Birthday sweet girl. 

Ordinary Day to Remember

I haven’t taken many pictures of the girls lately. I am not great at snapping photos, and their milestones seem to spread out the older they get. This evening was a bit calmer than some, and I decided to grab a few photos to help me remember.

Remember how this little guy is doing better at eating pureed food. Though it still only amounts to about a tablespoon and a half and of that only part makes it in his mouth. He seems to enjoy carrots and his sisters want to know how you mush up carrots when they are so hard? His hair is growing in thicker and he is grabbing for everything he can get his hands on.

Remember how Beth more dances around her chair during dinner rather than sits in it. She rarely eats a whole meal and most of the time dinner is spent in negotiating. Remember how you were a good mom and bought a pumpkin pie for Pi day. You let the kids choose even though you would have preferred coconut cream. 

Oh, and don’t forget the conversation at dinner from J about how “Santa, the Tooth fairy, and the Easter bunny are the only real magic in the world. Because how would we have presents or money or egg hunts without them.” 

We miss Dad at the dinner table as this is a night he works late. The table is a different place without him, but we manage. 

Remember how your oldest baby now takes care of the youngest baby with such gentleness and love. She does fun activities with him and sings to him. It is beautiful and incomprehensible that she is old enough to do this. When given the option to clear the table or tend the baby so you can do dishes, she beats her siblings with a resounding, “I will watch the baby.” The baby loves her and often times gets excited when she walks in the house after being gone all day. 

Remember how these girls recalled mom had put their Barbie camper away months ago and decided it is time to be played with. It will keep them entertained for the next week as they come up with different scenarios for their barbies. They asked you several times in the last 24 hours when you would get it out for them. 

These ordinary days are the gentle rhythm of our lives. They string together much of the growth and learning we encounter. When I look back, I know I will want to remember not only the grand but the simple days we live as a family too. Grateful to get to experience life with my family. 

5 Months

At 5 months he is:

Sleeping better at night

Has tried baby food, but not overly excited about it yet. He seemed to enjoy carrots the most of what he tried. Still nurses. 

Is great at smiling and very happy in the morning

Can roll from tummy to back, but bot proficient yet

Loves to be entertained by his sisters

Done with being swaddled

Loves to be outside and go on walks

Enjoys Dad but loves mom the best right now.

Has been the best part of 2022. 

Jenna writes on her school papers how grateful she is for her brother Jim.

Beth has to give him a hug every morning upon waking and Natalie spends lots of time holding him so I can cook or help her sisters.

 She does really well with him. 

December Happenings

Beth and Jenna testing out art project idea for story time. Beth repeatedly tried to eat the paint.

First snow fall of the year before Thanksgiving. Dad shoveled the yard to make a snow man this big. He was fun while he lasted. 

Seeing Santa at a ward Christmas party. These girls were thrilled! Natalie wants Bo Peep from story time and Jenna wants Jessie. They decided a month ago and haven’t waivered. 

I love Jenna showing her two green pointer fingers in this picture. She is really a kind sister to Beth and most of the time tries to listen to mom. All my girls continue to refine and teach me daily. 

Begin Again

I have a returning thought of needing to put more effort towards recording our daily family life. I always answer that thought with, “I don’t have time.” 

I think this is something I will regret if I don’t do it now. So here is to starting again! I hope. ☺️

When Justin left Monday morning he told me he didn’t have any breaks until late afternoon. That didn’t sound like it would work very well for my day. I was bummed as it was Valentines and wanted to connect at some point that day. The younger two and I headed to town with the intent to purchase a treat and leave it on his desk with a note. The bakery I planned to buy from was closed. We headed to Red Apple and found Justin just getting out of his pickup in the parking lot. What a serendipitous moment! We decided to quickly go on a walk back at the campus together. It wasn’t long, but truly joyful to get to spend a short amount of time together on Valentines! Beth and Jimmy enjoyed it too. 

It has been cold enough most of the winter that the girls have been able to play on the ice in the canal. It was not this way last winter. We only got one weekend or so previously. 

Our house is full of Valentines Candy from school parties. It seems many classmates gave multiple items, not just a single Valentine.  I am asked a couple times a day, “What color is my tongue?” I told her she looked like a lizard! 

This boy turned four months last weekend. What can I say about him?

He brings an incredible amount of joy to each person in our family. Snuggling and talking to him helps each of us live in the present and remember to smile!

He is doing well grabbing things with his hands. He has found his voice and loves to squeal and talk or get mom’s attention when he isn’t happy. 

Loves to be outside and take baths.

Has changed from being a newborn to an older baby as he aged from 3-4 months.

Has great head control and likes to ride in the baby pack facing out. 

One day Natalie came home later than her sisters. When she walked in he just laughed and cooed at her. He seems to really enjoy talking to her.

We can’t imaging life with out him. Having him has shifted our world dramatically and there have been hard things, but equally or more wonderful things. 

Happy four months Jimmy Jim!