What a Mother Must Sacrifice

I love following a blog called, "Just a Family". I love the way she always focuses on the beauty and joy in life. She reminds me how to be a good Mother. Below is a link to one of my all time favorite posts. On those days when I feel strung to the end of my patience, I take a deep breath and hear myself say "Pluck" in my head, and then I smile. I remember this post, and I patiently (or as patiently as I can) take care of the needs of my little ones.

Click on the link below and read it. It's kind of long, but so inspiring to me.

Just a family: What a Mother Must Sacrifice....#links#links

Just a family: What a Mother Must Sacrifice....#links#links

Pic's of my house!

I've been wanting to post pictures of my house now that I'm starting to get it decorated, and although I'm not totally done, nor is my house totally clean I thought that if I don't take post some now I never will. So, here you go.

This is pretty much the first thing you see when you walk in my house. The sign says, "Home is where your story begins" and all those pictures are actually some of the books that I've made.

Just to the left of that display is the fire place.
Here's a larger view of the front room... sorry it's a bit messy.

On the opposite wall from the piano is my other little display.

And across from the fireplace is my couch... can't wait for winter to snuggle up here!

Here is the boys room.

Another view of their room. By the way... it took me HOURS to get this room into some kind of decent shape for a picture... why are boys so messy???

Here's the dining room.

Just off the kitchen is a little sun room. We have really started enjoying it with the futon in there.

Another view of the sun room. I LOVE this room. I open up all the windows and feel the cool breeze, then remember that it's over 100 degrees in Arizona... and I giggle. But I know you all are going to be laughing at me this winter.

Here's the kitchen. I LOVE my kitchen... it's one of the biggest reasons that we bought the house.

I love it even more when it's clean!

Alyssa's room is pretty much my favorite room in the house. I can't wait until I get a little extra money to finish decorating it!

Here's the other side of the room.

I love this little display in her room. It's Alyssa's blessing dress that Nate's mom made, and a couple pictures of Lissa in her little dress.

Here is the upstairs bathroom... wow, there is a story behind this room... but that's another post. Nate did all the tiling in the shower. Here is a picture of the toilet, I know, you are all so excited that I posted this... I would delete it... but I can't.

And the sink... I know, you are all probably falling asleep right now asking your self, "Why? oh WHY is she posting all these pictures???" Well... I get a little obsessed with details sometimes.

This is down in the basement. A lady in the ward was getting rid of a sectional, so me being a kind hearted, compassionate (and desperate to get off the futon) kind of person decided to take it off her hands for her.

Here is a bigger view of the first room in the basement.

I want to put some cool lettering on the wall between the guitars that says, "The family that rocks together stays together".

Right off the first room is a large laundry room. The door next to the washer is the down stairs bathroom.

Right behind where I was standing taking the picture above is another little room that I turned into a little food storage ... and other random storage area.

Here's the downstairs bathroom... I know... this is getting long.

Here's the backyard view from the preschool room door.

Off to the left from the laundry room is another door that leads to a large room that we turned into a preschool.

Well, ladies and gentlemen that completes this tour, please watch your step as you click out, and have a good day.

Playing Catch Up!

So, the other day I made up some jello for the kids. Austin ended up leaving most of his in his bowl on the table.

So Alyssa decided to climb on up and help him out.

Later threw all the kids in bathtub, and Austin decided to help wash Alyssa's hair.

I love the way water photograph's.

I also love weeping willow trees and was ecstatic when I found that we had one in our back yard!

This is my back yard.

A couple weeks ago Nate had a week off work. HURRAY! We were able to get the rest of the fallen apple tree in the back all cut up into firewood and do a few things around the house. Then we were able to drive to Columbus to visit with our great friends from medical school Carie and Tracy, and their daughter Grace. Carie watched the kids so Nate and I could go to the Temple. THANK YOU CARIE!

Afterward we took the kids to a park near her home. Here are some of my favorite pictures.

Here is Andrew and Austin shooting each other with hoses.

"You should see the other guy."

Me and my man.

He's so hot!

Here is little Grace playing in a puddle.

Finally, my little Lissa girl, practicing her super model pose.

The First Day of School!

Today is the first day of school!!! I'm full of mixed emotions. I'm so excited for the boys to get back into a routine, and I'm excited for some quiet one on one time with my little Lissa girl, but... I already miss the little tike's.

They are riding the bus this year! It was so fun walking with them down to the bus stop, which is only 2 houses away. They were full of smiles and nervous excitement. As the bus pulled up, they eagerly jumped in and took a seat close to the bus driver. They looked out the window, their faces full of smiles, my eyes were full of tears.

My little boys are growing so fast.