Mother's Day

It was a simple Mother's Day.

Church

HUGE nap

Dinner with Steve's parents.

Walk around our new lot. (it's small…it wasn't a long walk)

House plans hash with my mom.  (She's a house plan genius I tell you.)

The day couldn't have been more calm.  The kids all told me they loved me.  I got handmade cards from school.  Steve cooked dinner.  None of the kids fought (miracle).  It was wonderful and easy.  

I didn't get any pictures of the moms in our lives, but I did catch this sweetness.

Stories with Grandpa Dixon.  

I hope my kids one day realize how blessed they truly are and how preciously rare our situation is.  Two sets of loving grandparents that live in town.  They are pampered and adored by both sides of the family.  

Great ending to a wonderful day.

Colby on our future home site.  It comes with a pretty sweet view for now.

Things that have made me happy

I've been going to nurseries with my mom the last few weeks checking out flowers.

Saylor running amongst the flowers has made me smile.  When she would break out in song from Frozen, I smiled even bigger.

My mom found this cookbook and I've tried multiple recipes.  I'm in gluten free heaven.  The lemon sugar cookies alone were worth buying the book for.  

Dreaming of this laundry room…but I'm way to chicken to ever get a bold floor such as this.

Carter decided he was ready to learn infusion sets and syringe injections.  

He's a brave one.

Finding the flower baskets I wanted was even more fun with a "home from school sick" Colby.

Not feeling so happy about this nest in my basket though.   I'm the meanest person ever, but I've ripped this nest out more than once. (no eggs yet so don't yell at me) We even put screws in the basket in hopes it would deter those pesky robins.  But that daddy robin keeps coming back.  I'm going to have to hide my basket until nesting season is over.  I DON'T want bird poop on my porch or a crazy momma bird dive bombing my children.

Cleaned out my closet and found these babies.

Maybe I should clean my closet more?????

Grady tried to be small this week.  He tried to get comfy in this little bouncy seat.  He cracks me up…so happy I have him.

For Sale

Its official.

We put money down on a lot in our same neighborhood, and now have need to sell our home.

I know this blog is private and not many people read it, but I figured word of mouth can be pretty amazing.  We would love to sell it without a realtor if possible.

Cute house

Built in 2008

3,000 or 3,100 square feet  (I need to check our official paperwork)

Full finished basement

5 bedrooms

3 bathrrooms…all with double sinks and lots of space

Large family room in basement

2 storage rooms

2 car tandem garage

Awesome neighborhood close to new hospital…so awesome we are building in it again

Will include flowers similar to picture (after I plant them in a few weeks)

Children on front porch are not included.

$275,000

The Best Day

Our little, but mighty, Colby was baptized yesterday morning at the Harrison street stake building.

(This is the same building where I was baptised)

It was the best day.  

Steve did a wonderful job with both the baptism and Colby's confirmation.  It also had to be the cutest baptism ever as Steve picked up Colby dripping wet and hugged him right in the font.  

Steve and I have very tender feelings about our Colby Virge.  We've had many discussions about Colby's strengths , his love, his determination, his obedience, and his love of life and all things fun this past week.   We are enamored with this little boy and the zest he brings to our family.  He's pretty awesome…and we love him!

My dad presided and conducted at the pre-baptism meeting.  I'll miss his presence on the stand at functions such as these when he is released from the stake presidency this summer.

Colby with Sister Hieder and Bastow.  Couldn't ask for a better primary presidency!  They spoiled him rotten both in words and gifts.

The Walker and Dixon family together.

Cara was taking the picture.  Thanks Cara!

Both sets of grandparents.  Could a boy get more lucky???

Our family.

(Andrew was on his tiptoes for this shot.  He is not quite taller than me just yet.)

Just me and my boy.

Colby, your dad and I are so proud of you and your decision and desire to be baptized.

We love you more than you could ever imagine.

Other (less formal) pictures from yesterday….

Grady finding his perch on the stand.

The three teenage cousins.

Anavey, Andrew and Holly

The girly girls…aka Saylor's posse (at least she would like to think that)

Gary, Margie, Michael and Chenele.

We were assigned the high council room for Colby's confirmation.  The boys decided they would sit right up to the table and make their presence and authority known.

Carter, Wyatt, AJ and Wes.

Cara, Jared, JaNae, Dad and Mom

A huge thank you to both the Dixon and Walker families for being with us on Colby's special day!

Carter's Arrow of Light

Carter has a crazy fun scout troop.  It' huge.

And last week nine of the boys received their Arrow of Light award. 

Yes, nine.

As part of the ceremony, the awarded boys are allowed to shoot a FLAMING marshmallow into the parking lot.  

Its hilarious and scary all at the same time.  I'm grateful the boys were only allowed to shoot one at a time.  I could imagine the chaos that could happen with nine flaming marshmallows.

Carter being lit.

The shot!

Who wouldn't be happy after shooting fire?

The scouts with their awards.

The boys then get to leave their hand print on a massive canvas.  Carter put his right above Andrew's.

I'm proud of Carter and all his hard work and fun he has put into scouts!

And side note…guess who else started scouts this month?

Look out troop 180!  

Before I forget...

I always seem to forget to write these things down so I figure I better before I forget completely.

Grady said what I'm calling his first official word this weekend.  He said "Gi-Gi" which means gi-gi which is what we call his binki/pacifier/soother  (so many ways to say it).  We call it a gi-gi because my twin nieces Annie and Meg called them gi-gi's when they were little…and the family tradition was passed on.

Grady will now reach for his gi-gi while saying it loud and clear.  He loves that thing or things.  We have about eight that get passed around.

My other kids' first words if I am remembering correctly.

Andrew:  No!
Carter:  Cookie
Colby:  Hi there!
Saylor:  Momma

Colby turned the big big eight!

My Colby turned the ripe old age of eight on the 25th!

We started the celebration early by having his friend party on Thursday evening.  This was his first friend party ever so we tried to make it fun.

Steve started out by bringing home a HUGE bunch of balloons just for Colby.

Eight is great my friend!

Colby chose 6 friends to accompany him to JumpTime a local indoor trampoline jumping arena.

(No pics from there…Steve took all the kids so I'm totally understanding the no picture thing.  That is just craziness!)

The kids then came to our house for pizza and cake.

See the large child third from the left?  That is Jeff Bulkley, Colby's best friend.  Jeff has 5 daughters and Colby has made himself Jeff's honorary son.  Jeff even got a little kid invitation to the party, came to JumpTime and then our house.  He is a trooper…as is his wife for letting him come!

Happiness is a party with chocolate cupcakes!

…the candles were trick ones ordered by the birthday boy.

Charlie, Trevor, Casey, Colby, Aj, Mason and Jeff in the back.

A little opening presents game.

Dang trick candles!  Ok…they are just really fun.

On Friday I took (pretty simple) treats into Colby's class.

He loves Mrs. Snow!

His present showed up just in time and arrived on my doorstep hours before he got home from school.

This kid loves his man cave beanbag.

For the final hurrah, we went to DQ for dinner.

(Of course the Bulkleys were invited as was Andrew's friend Barrett.)

The day ended with a Dilly Bar and a hot tub party at the Bulkelys.

Happy Birthday Colby!  We love you so much it hurts!