Spring break

Spring break coincided with Easter, which is a long weekend in Canada! So we stayed home to spend Easter together. The kids and I were adventurous and drove to Washington to visit our Wright family there. It was a short but fun week. 

I got to attend the temple twice, once to watch Brynn and two cousins be baptized for relatives names we found, and once to do a session of sealings with my mom and dad, and my brother and his wife. It was awesome. I love the spirit I feel in the temple!

The next two days were spent shopping. It was time for wardrobe updates for the kids, spring and summer wear. First the boys, then the girls. It was fun bonding times and we love getting clothes outside of southern Alberta so we don't have the same items as many others in our town!

This wagon was dual purpose. Fun for Molly at first. Then the big kids discovered they could ride it down the driveway. Very adventurous of them since you can't steer it very well. 

Spencer sporting his new goggles and shirt. He ended up with a bunch of name brand stuff from Ross, which I'm not into for little kids, but it was the same price as Walmart but better quality.

And the last day we found a really fun park, the theme of the park was based on a children's story, Ferdinand, then we had to go to zips for criscuts. 

After Molly was down for a nap, the kids and me hiked to the pond near my parents house. I had never been there and the kids didn't know where they going so we took a very round about way. After 1 1/2 hours of walking we discovered we were above the pond on a different trail. 

This is where we went wrong. 

Our 2 hour hike would have been half that long, at least, if only I'd known. But it was a good time and good exercise and the day was beautiful. 

Easter

We spent good Friday at the farm with grandma and grandpa Torrie and the southern Alberta crew. Easter egg hunt. My sister in law, Whitney, was awesome and put a grape in the eggs! Then they got to find little chocolates spread on the grass. The kids threw eggs down the sand hill and uncle Spencer drove the quad like a mad man while they tried to hit him with the boiled, decorated eggs. 

Molly made friends with aunt Tonya, finally!

Other events of the weekend:

I was called as primary president on Easter Sunday. 

We announced to our kids first, then parents and our siblings, about baby #6 coming in October. 

The kids' responses were varied. Brynn was so surprised and shocked that she cried. She wasn't sure if she was happy or sad. Joel was glad as long as it's a boy. Macy was surprised and Spencer didn't really care. 

I think I'm still surprised that it's real. I haven't heard the heartbeat yet but I sure have been sick and my tummy is growing way too quickly! Mornings are my favorite and least sick time of day. Evenings are rough. I'm usually ready to crawl in bed by 6:30 or 7, but no such luck. 

We feel blessed that we can bring another spirit into the world and know we will be given help to care for it. 

We are so grateful for the Savior, His life, death, and resurrection, that allows us to have eternal life, peace, and joy. 

Child labor

I coerced my older children to entertain the younger ones at the park on Saturday. I even offered a small monetary bribe because I was afraid they would turn me down. They needed fresh air and I needed an hour of peace and quiet. 

Brynn discovered that Molly loves the baby swing! Hooray. 

Molly is 11 months

Molly likes to be the centre of attention. She is a Mama's girl to the max. She is currently getting 6 new teeth. I'm sure some of her fussiness has to do with that. She dropped her 2nd nap in the last two months. She can walk along furniture like a pro and can stand on her own. Her balance is great. She has the cutest smile and contagious giggle. She loves to babble a lot. 

Molly was hanging out with me today while I was resting in bed. 

Happenings

Bathroom renovation number #1 has begun. A full Saturday to demo, all the way down to the floor boards. We had to cut out some drywall, due to mold. Progress! Now we must be patient as we build our new bathroom. 

Brynn gave Macy a makeover. But needed some help with the hair. These moments where two children are getting along, are precious. 

We try to eat donuts the 12th day of every month in honor of Ryan Henrie, who died on June 12 in a car accident. This time we made them. So delicious and not very difficult. They are baked so it's basically a sweet bun with glaze or icing on it. 

We've been trying new hair dos for Macy, thanks to a website called "babes in hair land". This was for Valentine's Day. 

Brynn likes pictures taken in nature. 

Spencer enjoying his smoothie after declaring that he doesn't like smoothies. 

Brynn crushed this gum package while watching one of Joel's basketball games. It was intense. Her friend played for the other team and she cheered for Joel! Happy parent moment!!

His tricks on the new trampoline, the way he swings, and wanting to plant the garden in January because it was warm. 

Why do I have children?

1. When I chose to marry Stan in the Logan Utah temple for time (on earth) and eternity, I made a covenant with him and with God that I would obey all of God's commandments. The commandment to "multiply and replenish the earth" was given at this time. 

2. As I read in the ensign today, it's more than obeying an important commandment. Elder Paul B Pieper says this "bearing and raising children helps us develop our capacity to become like God." I certainly need lots of help becoming like God. This has made me think. Why/how does raising children help me become like God? Well, it forces me to serve, day in and day out, during the night, etc for as long as my children need me. Isn't this forever? I'm sure it will change as time goes by and they leave home. When I choose to willingly serve, it brings me joy and that is one reason I am here on Earth. 

Raising children allows me to share the gospel with them, my greatest investigators. As I study and grow in the gospel so I can teach them, I grow closer to God and become more like Him. 

I'm sure there are others but these are my thoughts today. 

The more children I have, the more work, both spiritual and physical, it is for me and the more opportunity I have for growth. I'll take it. 

Christmas

Christmas was so great. We spent part of Christmas Eve out at the farm with Stan's parents and Blake and Whitney. We came home to open pjs and prepare for Christmas morning. I LOVE having Christmas morning at our own house. Molly slept through the whole Christmas morning fun. It was ok though. She will never remember that she missed it, but she's not in any of the pictures. Stan took some good video of kids reactions that will be fun to watch later. 

We went back out to the farm for Christmas dinner and a sleigh ride. It was fun. A new experience for us all.  

Watching a muppet Christmas Carol. 

Molly

I've kept up with her baby book but have neglected the blog. I'm trying to do too many good things.  Here are some updates. 

-9.5 months

-crawled at 7 months(early for my kids)

-small, weighs only 16 pounds

-loves to empty cupboards, play with wallets, pens, plastic bags, and some toys too. 

-likes books, especially something I'm reading to an older child. She isn't sitting still with us but wants to rip the pages.  

-loves music

-waves her hands

-is fascinated by lots of things-I love this about babies and all young children. Everything seems so new and exciting. 

-sleeping through the night most of the time. Woo hoo!

-still nursing.  Can't believe I'm still doing it. If she would take a bottle, I'm sure I wouldn't be. Love her anyway. And now that I've accepted it, it's not so bad. 

These last two pictures... I found her like this after her nap. I guess the neck was big. 

Post Christmas

It's always nice to "go home".  With Stans new job at the college, well he started last January, he had the whole week off after Christmas. We arrived to a beautiful winter wonderland. The snow was calling me. Before I moved to Edmonton, winter was my favorite season, as long as I can remember. After breakfast each day we were there, I was out with the kids, having lots of fun sledding. When you go outside that early the days pass slow and feel long. It was a great week of fun and relaxation, notwithstanding 3 kids that puked. (It was a super fast stomach bug,1-4 hours and then they were brand new.) it was great spending time with my mom and dad and Rob and Cori. We watched some movies, watched some sports, ate good food, played some games, visited Manito Park's inside light display(the smell of fresh vegetation made me want some plants in my home). Stan I and got to go to the temple too!

Dishwashers

I feel like I've had bad luck with dishwashers. It seems that over the past 5-6 years, each dishwasher I've had works only about half the time, even while living in my mother in laws house, a dishwasher she hasn't ever had issues with. I'm always excited when it's working. Thank you, Spencer, for your happy expression. That's how I feel too. 

Thanksgiving

I have the privilege of being a citizen of two countries and today we celebrate in Canada. 

Today I'm grateful for:(in no particular order)

-freedom

-healthy children

-agency

-peace that only comes through striving to follow the Savior by living His commandments 

-personal revelation

-amazing family legacy on both sides, the I was born into and the one I married into. 

-material blessings such as food, clothing, shelter and beyond

-a healthy body and mind

-ability to gain knowledge 

-local libraries which provide so many resources that I can borrow and return 

-church leaders, general and local

-the challenge of raising children

-husband who loves me unconditionally and works too hard so I can be home with our little ones

-the many people who love and help us raise our children

-4 seasons, I'm loving fall

-the ability to have a clean home-while children are gone or sleeping. 

Service FHE

We were grateful for Brynn's brilliant idea to rake the leaves in Shirley Hirsche's backyard. It's fun to serve. The kids worked hard and they were happy. 

General conference

The counsel I received from conference:

-be worthy to have the spirit to guide me, don't live life without it, too hard to do it on my own

-the atonement helps me be the person I want to be and the person Heavenly Father wants me to be. 

-ponderizing scriptures is brilliant.  I struggle to memorize and remember so I got discouraged with memorizing but now I don't have to and effect this will have on my life will be great. Love the idea of doing it as a family or at least sharing together. Groups on Facebook/Instagram will be great too

I love Macy's Lego creation of the choir, the speaker and the congregation at the conference centre. 

I have to admit I was disappointed that my two oldest seemed to lose their excitement about conference. They usually take amazing notes. This year, they barely paid attention but at least they were with me.