Took a trip to see my parents this last weekend. Oliver was the first one up.

My lovely Grandma who will be 89 this year. She was winning at Farkel.

My sister came to visit to see her new grand baby.

This guy made me a Great Aunt.

My sis and I folding off before going to sleep.

Then we went home. Katie decided to take selfies. She is growing up so fast.

And most recent, Leo took 3rd at this years Pinewood Derby!!

SPRING!!!

My garden has made me happy this year. I spent a lot of time and work last year putting it all together. I had to take out a few bushes and weed and plant and mulch. While it did look good last year I was anxious for it this year because it required no work from me. I just watched it grow!

First to pop up were the crocus plants. Pretty purple flowers that will bloom even when there is snow on the ground. I had these scattered around one garden bed. It was awesome to watch because I had forgotten where they were planted and i had also planted the bulbs in the fall so I didn't even know if they would work. The did!

My daffodils and hyacinths came up at the same time, which is what I was expecting them to do. I love my tiny daffodils!! They filled out really nice! 

One garden bed. I planted tulips this year in the back row. They bloomed around the time the other flowers faded off.

While I was weeding I had a few friends around. This was not even a big one, or the first, or the last.

A neighbor girl found this 3 headed dandy lion.

TOFW

My Mom and a friend came to see me. Well, they came to go to Time Out For Women. It was fun to spend the weekend with them. And I got to see and meet John Bytheway!! All the speakers were great. We sat on the very front row both days. I loved being up close. We were really early both days too. My company wanted the best seats. So that's what I got them.

Oh, and comic con was going on at the same time. Found these guys wandering the halls.

Storm

The first 3 pictures are showing the growth of Storm. I have them dated. She has grown more since the 3rd picture. I really need to take another. After that are just random pictures. She is a great member of this family. Just about fully house broken. She lets me know when she needs to go out. The only times she has had accidents is when I didn't recognize or I ignored the signs. She still needs to learn how to great people that are invited in, but she is a work in progress. The kids (older 3) have finally fully (almost) warmed up to her. My youngest has never had a problem. They are actually really great together, for the most part. Storm is still a puppy, just a bigger one. She doesn't mean to knock him over. The real challenge was the other 2 boys. I finally showed them how to be around her so she doesn't get too excited. Not too shabby for the most part.

Dec. 27, 2014

Jan. 22, 2015

March 15, 2015

Hopefully in chronological order:

This is her favorite corner to lay in when I am cooking or doing dishes.

She is showing me she doesn't fit in this kennel anymore. She really liked being in it though because it was right next to my bed. The other one was down stairs far away from my bed.

These 2 are so good together!

She knows where to sit.

She likes to dig, so I built he a mountain to dig in.

She still knows where to sit.

She has a friend from across the street, a few months older.

 Couple boys and their faithful dog.

Merry Christmas

We had a very nice Christmas this year. I have come to realize my favorite holidays are ones that I spend at home. My own home. Don't get me wrong, I like to see my family too. But I do like the relaxation that comes with staying home. Especially with little ones.

This year was a bit uneventful over all. For like the whole month. I didn't do or try anything spectacular. However, the day of Christmas on the other hand...

Yup, we got a puppy. And a little monster there in the bottom picture. As far as the puppy goes, she is a full blooded German Shepherd. We named her Storm. Nothing to do with her energy or anything. Just thought it went good with a black dog.

On our second night. Hope it goes better than the first. Not that the first was bad. Actually, it could have gone a lot worse. Just approaching  things a bit different from the start tonight. We will see how it goes.

So far, she is pretty great. Still a puppy that wants to do puppy things. But in time she will figure it out. House training is going great. No accidents in the house so far. A crate helps with that. "Other" training, like sit, down and stay will come after kids are back in school. Too much going on around here to even attempt it. I have a little dog whisperer in training. She is trying to be a leader and trainer, but, well, sigh. She's a good kid.

OK, good night.

Expectations

Everyday I have this idea, plan, in my mind. It's about how I think my day will go. Or should go. It hardly ever works out that way. I picture a spotless house. Having a place for everything. No clutter. Kids that can find something to do on their own. Peaceful. Me, dressed nice everdqy for my husband. But in reality. That's just not how it goes.

I don't want to get up before the sun and get my daughter off to school. Its too early. And that's when my day begins. Then I am just tired through the rest of the day.

The thing is. I know how to make a change. There are foods I eat that I know are hindering my energy. And I know lately have has those foods pretty regularly.

So today, and from here on out I  going to avoid those foods and hopefully my energy levels will go up.

Sap

I'm a sap. What can I say. Ever since having a family of my own, I am like the biggest sap! I see a cute puppy that overcame an obstical of going down the stairs. Cry. I watch a movie and the couple that obviously love eachother break up because of a misunderstanding. Cry. I read a simple story to my kids that teaches a life lesson. Cry. Any story from the Friend (published by the LDS church). CRY.

I was reading a story to my kids tonight as part of a December, leading up to Christmas. Trying to bring the focus back to a Christ centered Christmas a little bit everyday. I get toward the end of the story. Thus far I have been in control. Keeping my emotions on check. Telling myself, just keep reading like its no big deal. But then the lesson of the story comes in. To think of others. And what happens? I tear up! I had to pause. PAUSE! As and try to school myself back to a normal sounding voice. I admitted to my kids that I am a sap and kept reading the last 3 lines.

My daughter grabs my arm in a hug and say "oh mommy, your so delicate. Your glass broke. Like a jar of water." Umm, thanks.