Happiness is

Happiness this week has been…

Having a buddy to jump around in a bed with you.

Finding a gf banana recipe that is better than any gluten filled banana bread…ever.

Oh and a pumpkin bread recipe too.

(will be making 2 loaves of this today with chocolate chips and then buying tons of bananas tomorrow!)

Having a Grandma to snuggle and love you.

Capturing that perfect smile on a four year old pretending to be Elsa.

Looking and finding house things you LOVE.

Even though you shouldn't be thinking about house stuff unless your house is sold first.

But you keep looking anyway…just for fun!

Spending a weekend with 12 crazy fun soon to be sophomores on the 4th year weekend/hike.

Finishing 5 miles with these ladies amongst the most beautiful surroundings!

Eating lunch with this view.

Walking to church.

Even though only some of us act excited about it.

Having a new beautiful church building close enough to walk to.  

Wonderful sacrament meeting.

Not having to wrangle kids to get in the car after church…telling them to walk home! 

Happiness all around I tell you.

I'm glad May is over and looking forward to June

May seems to always be insane.  I think every weekend this past month was filled to the brim.  I'm looking forward to June, but I secretly know it will be even busier with all five kids home all day, its our turn to clean the office again, swim team starts up today, family reunions begin and…I'm desperately trying to keep my house clean enough to show if needed.  (The last one is stressing me out.  I'm trying to get over it and let the house be messy.  It's not working very well.)

Some of the highlights from our last week in May are as follows.

Andrew had his piano recital.

He play one solo piece and then was part of quartet which popped and blew up balloons during their performance.  It was pretty great.  

A few days later, Colby had his violin recital.  He also had a solo piece and then was part of a large group number.  He's doing great and I'm proud of him and Andrew for their hard work!

Carter pulled out his own loose premolar and then promptly accidentally dropped it down the sink.

Oops!

This is the note he left the Tooth Fairy in hopes she would be nice enough to get the tooth herself down the bathroom drain.  She left him $$$ but I'm not sure is she fished for the tooth…and I'm not willing to fish myself to find out.  

Caught this picture one morning before school.  I'm glad at least Colby knows where to find clean clothes if his dresser is empty.

Saylor also had a few wardrobe malfunctions.

Steve new BMPYTRK finally finally showed up at our doorstep.

It was shipped from North Dakota and took it's sweet puppy time getting here.

Steve had been a little off lately and his mood has been sub par (I'm saying this in the nicest way possible.)  The morning after his car arrived he kissed the kids and told them he loved them.  I've come to the conclusion that Land Cruisers to Steve are like Diet Pepsi to me.  Steve is not a happy camper without a Land Cruiser in our garage.  I will keep this in mind for the future.

All the kids were excited to have the car here and take it for a spin.

I drove it around the neighborhood and gunned the engine probably a little too much…just needed to show Steve's new girlfriend who is boss around here.  ;)

Grady learned to eat with a fork this week.  I would smash a little muffin on the fork and he would feed himself the bite.  He was SO proud of himself.

Cute little bug.

Why I might not be the perfect parent and other insights from yesterday and the day before.

Sometimes I have to say over and over in my head just to make myself feel better,  "I am a good mother.  I am a good mother.  I am a good mother."  

This soda chugging was for a diabetic low.  I don't think he could have been any happier with his blood glucose of 69.  I think he may have squealed in happiness…if 10  year old pre-teens can squeal.

I had a revelation yesterday.  It was a revelation I have had before.  I REALLY love my neighborhood.  Its open, its spacious, it has a great park.  This is just icing on the cake because the people in this neighborhood are stellar.  It's the best. 

Saylor loves Grady.  Loves him to the point of driving him freak-show crazy.

Not sure if he was loving her back or ready to back hand her.  It could have gone either way.

Memorial Day Weekend

First off, I must start with a pre-weekend picture.  When I was at the gyn's office getting massive drugs, I received this picture.  I was too loopy to think about it, but my friend Deanna was worried I would think Grady was really driving around on a power wheels with Colby.  Guess what?  I didn't think twice about it.  14 month old driving?  Sounds good to me!

Pain=Drugs=Jill doesn't care what her kids are doing.  

Hence why I should never have elective surgery again. EVER.  

My kids would get away with murder.

These blooms won't be around for long and I'm enjoying them as much as I can.

I love this silly bush in the back yard.  It was planted in the front flowerbeds, years ago but then I changed my mind.  Steve was supposed to rip it out and chuck it.  He planted it on our property line instead.  It's grown like crazy.  I will now always have a snow ball bush in my yard. 

This girls fashion sense cracks me up.

Iced apple juice on a hot Sunday afternoon is always fine when paired with a sun dress and winter boots.

Last night we went to Steve's brothers for a Memorial Day BBQ.  The food was wonderful, the company fantastic, and the entertainment fabulous.

The kids got bounced around by cousins.  Fun stuff!

Grady didn't jump, but spent his time lining up and stacking rocks in Mike's back yard.

Steve set up tents and slept outside with Carter, Colby and Saylor late last night.

This is what happens when everyone else is in the back yard…Andrew takes over my bed and thinks he needs a bag of hot tamales as big as him.

Good times.

This morning we met up with the Dixons and visited family graves here in Twin.

Colby helping trim Grandpa Dixon's headstone.

Carter by his great-great grandfather's grave.

 Grady being as helpful as possible.

This is as helpful as Grady gets.

This Weeks Comings and Goings

1 House Showing.  People loved the house but thought the kitchen was too small (um..reason I am trying to sell so no surprise there.)  The house was cleaner than it will ever be again…ever.  I have no desire to clean like that again especially if the people looking at my house don't buy it.  (wink wink)

2 Field Trips.  Carter's was to Boise with the entire 4th grade.  Andrew's was to Hagerman's Thousand Springs for his end of year 8th grade party.  Carter had a great time and pronounced his favorite part the Discovery Center followed by the Brazilian Grill dinner with Steve before they drove home.  Andrew came home tired and sunburned.

1 Ablation.  It was supposed to be uneventful, but turned into me returning to hospital for pain control.  I would record for posterity sakes all the drugs pumped into my system but in my drug induced haze, I don't remember the names of them.  Lets just say some of them were with big long needles in not so fun places.  Feeling better today, but still sore, achy and tired.  Happy to be off all narcotics.   Ibuprofen is still my best friend though.

1 Wonderful Mom.  She stayed with me during and after my ablation and then took me back to the hospital while I was sick and writhing in pain.  Watched my little ones, ran my house, and fed my family while I finally slept in my room Thursday night.  She stayed with me until Steve arrived home from being in Boise with Carter.  She deserves a medal for endurance that lady!  I love her…its no secret.

Many fabulous friends.  My darling girl friends helped my mom and I out too on Thursday.  Grady and Saylor were watched all day and then my other kids were picked up from school and entertained.  I feel very blessed to have such wonderful friends in my neighborhood who are selfless and caring.  Thanks Ladies!

1 Land cruiser purchase.  Steve bought a newer old cruiser that will be shipped here by next week.  He's anxious to get it here and inspect his purchase.  He was hoping to have it by tomorrow, but it didn't work out.

1 Long Weekend.  We're hoping to get yard work done and keep up on the house.  I hope we have a showing our two…but not holding my breath!

The Neglected One

Sometimes I feel like Grady is neglected.

Not that he isn't fed or bathed or dressed (the last two are relative…he's the kid I've allowed to be the dirtiest), but he's number 5 and he has to go along for the ride.  His hair isn't always combed, his face isn't always washed and lets be honest, his clothes aren't always spot free.

He's my constant companion, always at my side, but I worry I'm not giving him enough eye to eye attention.  

But neglected or not, I adore this boy.

I love his big blue eyes, his chubby fingers, his squishy facial expressions and his crazy blond hair.

I love that he is happy to bebop

 around the house entertaining himself with whatever comes his way.

At the moment he's easy going with a capital E!

…and I'm so grateful for that.  With seven people living in our house, one of us needs to be low maintenance.

More about Grady Love-

Sleeps heaven-like through the night.

LOVES to be outside playing in the dirt.

Has his own sign language and combined tongue click for the word cookie.

Eats baby oatmeal like its going out of style.

Snuggles (just me of course) with an orangutan like grip.  

Loves being sung to and read to. 

Starting to climb on anything he can get his chubby hands up on.

Tolerates his brothers.  

He didn't really appreciate being put in a make shift box car and toted around the front lawn.

Adores my little rocking chair.  I can hear him climbing and rocking on this crickity thing from all over the house.

Can be found shirtless and pantless most of the time.

(really…I should dress this kid and comb his hair!)

Has been know to eat chocolate cookies for breakfast.

(In my defense, he had already eaten oatmeal, yogurt, and a multivitamin)

Those sparkling eyes tell the whole story.

Grady, I love you so much it hurts sometimes.  I'm so overwhelmingly grateful you are in our family.  I should have named you Lucky because I feel so stinking lucky to have you here!

Who else is lucky??

Anyone who gets chocolate cake and bacon for breakfast.

(The 160 wasn't to shabby either.)

Carter was out  'late' last night at a movie with friends.  Early morning church came a little too early.

I'm calling this a "fun hangover" face.  

The cake and bacon brought him out of it fast though.

Last thing…

Colby has discovered my orange childhood kite.  My Grandpa Walker bought it for me when I wasn't much older than Colby.  I used to go in our back field and let it fly.  Now Colby is doing the same.

Every kid needs a kite, a back field and a cool breeze now and then.