Lucy' Wiz Kidz Graduation

First, isn't this such a darling picture of Vivian during the opening prayer?

Now on to the graduate: Lucy's class performed a darling song and dance about colors. Each child received a certificate of completion and I sat their feeling very surreal the whole time.

Here is our beautiful graduate. She is turning into such a lovely young lady.

This sign took my breath away when I first saw it. Wow!

Our little family is growing up. Lucy, you are such a good big sister and I am so thankful you can lead the way.

David's 4th Birthday Party

The stated with being sung to, family gifts and breakfast. He loved the foam swords we got him.

Then we were off to ride the train!!! It was awesome. This little boy was in heaven. They had performers on the train too. The whole family loved it.

So happy to celebrate!

At first he said he wanted a Lightning McQueen cake so I was trying to figure out how to make that, then he switched and wanted a train cake. Above is the finished product. I was pleased with how it turned out.

Opening presents with his friends and cousins.

He was so excited when it was finally time to eat his cake!

Then the kids played in the water and all around the backyard. Such simple pleasures of life.

We also played pin the caboose on the train, but I'm quite certain none of the children really got the full picture of how this game was to be played. It was still fun to watch them anyway. Happy Birthday David!

Daddy's work

Someday I will explain to Lucy the critical difference between a patient and a doctor, but for now it just makes me smile to hear her tell people, "Every Friday we get to visit my Dad for lunch at The State Hospital."

We do get to visit Daddy for lunch on Fridays and we love it. After lunch we run around a bit in the gym (are you in love with Vivian's boots?)

Marc and I like to play horse (I've yet to win).

And the kids like to race from one wall to the next with their Dad. It's a perfectly simple time.

David is 4!

I was just reflecting on the day this little man entered our lives. Right after he was born, my heart started racing and I became so anxious. The doctor was trying to help me calm down and yet it continued to race. Then the nurse brought my sweet baby boy right up to me and pressed his cheek besides mine and I was instantly calmed. David, you have continued to own my heart. You have made my heart capable of loving in a way that is so new and so beautiful. I really thought I knew with all of my schooling I had prior to having children that this whole motherhood thing would be a cinch. You have taught me that I was wrong, and for that I am so thankful. Thank you for letting me see a glimpse of how God loves His children. I learn each day from you and each day my life is so blessed because you are my son. Happy Birthday Handsome Jack!

Lucy Dance Recital . . . I beleive in Fairies

I always love to watch Lucy dance on the stage. She is so happy when she gets to dance and she always asks me about when it will be her turn to dance on the stage again.

She has so many fans. Grandma & Grandpa Sampson loved watching her dance and she loved seeing them there.

I know there is a head in the way, but I love this shot Marc took. When I was watching the dance in the rehearsal, I noticed it was very intentional that Lucy go last at this part in the dance where each girl took a turn leaping across the stage. When Lucy finally went she just leapt across that stage for all she was worth multiple times. It took my breath away and filled my eyes with tears. She is such a beautiful dancer.

Doing her lovely moves.

And then she was dancing off the stage with a giant smile on her face.

Vivian's 2nd Birthday Party

We had a great time celebrating our little lady with a cousin's party.

She loved her purple butterfly cupcakes.

Trying to figure out how to show me two fingers.

So much cuteness.

Best picture of the day. She's officially TWO (I'll leave off any adjectives)!

Coloring their butterfly crowns.

Norah, Vivian and Jane-all girl cousins that will be in the same grade. Such cute ladies.

I love the opportunity to make my children's birthdays magical.

Wearing her party dress from Grandma Sampson (that was of course purple). 

Mother's Day 2013

Mother's Day was lovely. Marc was sweet to make me breakfast and delicious dinner of grilled chicken, fresh fruit and green salad. He also helped the kids pick out a dress for me (they chose a pink sparkly one that I wore with pride).

Here I am with my babies. Such a blessed Mom. Such a beautiful season of life.

My baby is 2

Happy Birthday sweet Vivian. You bring so much joy and laughter to our family. You are your brother's greatest playmate and antagonist. Lucy loves you with all of her heart and you two are already such dear friends. You brighten Daddy's day and he always comes running when you call. You make my heart so complete. I love to hold and cuddle you. I love singing to you each night and saying a prayer with you as your squishy arms barely reach across your chest. I love that you have such sass and can look right at your Dad and tell him, "No," as if he should know better. As I held you tonight I was overcome with gratitude for these past two years I have been blessed to be your Mom. I poured my heart out in a prayer of thanksgiving for you. I will always be your greatest fan.

David's preschool graduation

David graduated from "Mommy preschool". His class (FIVE boys) favored the crowd with The Pledge of Allegiance.

Then he thought it was great to wear a cool hat and get his diploma.

Such great kids and such a wonderful neighborhood to raise our family while they were so young. I am so thankful for the many seasons of my life. David, you are a god boy.

Lately . . .

The kids like to watch Dad adjust the chemicals in the hot tub (they call it "the river") and I like to use the hot tub.

We've been enjoying building blocks and puzzles.

The kids are always up for coloring.

Our Niece (in-law), Sarianna, is living with us and we celebrated her birthday with her.

We love to check out The City Center Provo Temple on stilts.

We had lived in our home 20 days . . .

and Marc had to cut a hole in our kitchen ceiling! Apparently the seal on our bathtub drain had worn down and was leaking. Fortunately, Marc is amazing and was able to fix it fairly quickly and with little cost. Oh the joy of home ownership. 

Some things I really love about our new home

I wanted to write some things down that make me so happy about our new home. 1) Our bedroom: it is our personal retreat, I love it. I love that we have a room big enough for a king size bed, I love how relaxing our tub is and I love that we have our own bathroom off of our bedroom. 2) I love the kitchen. Everything gets to have its own little home. I even finally opened a few wedding gifts we have not been able to use yet due to lack of space.  I love the island that the kids can sit at while I make meals. I love the double oven and how quickly it heats up. I love that I have a place to put the kids' stuff low enough for them to reach them. I love that Lucy can get her own glass of water. I love that my dishwasher doesn't have to be hooked up to the sink to work. 3) I love that I have a laundry room that is behind a door and not off of my kitchen. 4) I love the storage spaces and cupboards everywhere. 5) I love that we have a guest room. 6) I love that we have a deck, a jungle gym (that my kids LOVE), a trampoline they can walk right on to and a hammock (I took the best nap in it the other day). 7) I love that my kids' bedrooms are on the same floor as ours (so many homes we looked at did not have this feature). 8) I love that everyday feels like Christmas as I go out in the yard to see a new plant blooming. 9) I love that I have grow boxes for my garden. 10) I love my linen closet. 11) I love that I have a sewing room. 12) I love that I have a place to put my Halloween costumes. 13) I love that I can hang up all of our older family pictures. 14) I love our cozy family room. 15) I love that we have a sitting room that can easily be kept clean. 16) I love that there is a vent right by my feet as I wash the dishes that blows warm air on them. 17) I love that we live closer to Costco than Sam's. 18) I love that there is no outlet on our neighborhood street. 19) I love that we have a place to set-up David's train. 20) I love that I can sleep in while Marc plays with the kids downstairs and I don't hear a thing.

And I love that Vivian uses this ledge as a railing to get up these stairs. I told Marc after we moved in, "If I'm dreaming, please don't wake me up for a few more days."

Lucy sang for the mayor

Lucy's preschool learned the song, "My Flag" and then they sang it for the start of a city council meeting. It was darling.

The kids loved waving their flags and David loved seeing Lucy up there singing.

Lucy was supposed to say, "All rise for the pledge of allegiance". For whatever reason (she got shy? didn't know what/when she was supposed to do?) she didn't say anything, but instead just starred at everyone and smiled while one of her classmates kept saying over and over, "Is Lucy going to say it?" Her teacher said it for her and all proceeded without too much delay. God bless America.

I closed on my house and then flew to Texas . . .

I have one work trip I take a year, and it just so happened to fall right in the middle of when we were moving. Oh well, it was a lot of fun and helped me de-stress. It was in San Antonio, TX so my sister was able to come see me while I wasn't in classes. It was wonderful to be with her without anyone else. It had been a LONG time. We checked The Alamo the first night we got in.

The next day we took a boat tour on the river through the city. Here I am with a few of my students.

San Antonio is a very charming city.

Our really sweet bus ride that was FREE and happened to arrive the second we got to the bus stop. I kind of felt like we were heading to Hogwarts.

Checking out The Alamo in the daylight.

We had some DELICIOUS BBQ at Rudy's.

Right before I flew out, my sister took me to see the temple and I won a little game we called, "Is it a Mormon Chapel?" It was a lot of fun (and I learned a lot at the conference). Then I got home and got to work again packing boxes.