New playground!

There is a new frozen custard and steakburger restaurant down the street from Dave's work.  I went to check it out and discovered there was also a totally awesome new park right behind it.  It isn't huge, but it has a soft surface for breaking falls.  It has equipment appropriate for all the kids in our family, which is more and more of a problem for us these days.  And there is a really great all weather soccer field next door so I get to watch soccer games while the kids play in the playground.  Fun for everyone.

Screen porch love

This spring has brought some fantastic screen porch weather.  Most evenings you can find the family hanging out, reading, talking, having a sword fight, or watching a show.  It really is the best room in the whole house.  

Mother's Day

This year marked over 9 years of motherhood for me.  Four kids later you would think that I would feel as though I really know how to be a mom.  I don't.  I get it right some of the time, and screw up a fair bit.  However, my heart is completely full of love for these four kids who have blessed my life.  They make me laugh and cry.  They fill my soul with a deep desire to be better every day.  The give me empathy and they teach me just as much as I teach them.  It is the hardest job in the world, and I am deeply grateful it is mine.

This family wouldn't be possible without the most amazing man in the world, my sweetheart.  I love him more than anything and am glad I get him as my partner in parenting.

Lastly, I sure love my in-laws.  They raised great children of their own and my children are so blessed to live near them.  They love spending time with grandma and grandpa.

Baby Style

Forget Gangnam Style, it is all about baby style over here.  Freya wore this monkey around for a good part of an hour.  She screeched when anyone tried to take it from her.  After that she got down listening to daddy's music.  Maybe there is a DJ job in her future.

Cousin Time!

One thing that is great about being living close to family is being able to celebrate milestones together.  Local cousins are awesome.  It is even sweeter when other cousins are in town visiting.  For our niece's birthday, there were cousins galore.  They ran around, played, laughed, giggled, yelled and just about bursted with happiness.  I loved watching them all in their revelry.

Even though it wasn't Phinn's birthday, he got talked his way into helping open the birthday girl's presents.

I really wish these two lived closer together.  They were born about 6 weeks apart and are two peas in a pod whenever they get a chance to spend time together.  What sweet, sweet girls.

 And these impromptu pictures were so fun.  You can see how much they love each other.

Freya can be pretty shy in large groups, and she doesn't take to everyone.  She loves Uncle Ed though.  He makes her giggle until she is almost in tears.

 I sure love these kids.

Catching Up

Hilde and Enoch are back in school and loving it.  Next week Phineas starts pre-school 3 days a week.  I am starting to settle into our new schedule and I can actually see some rays of light.  There is some blogging time on the horizon.  There is so much to write about, and since this is primarily for me to be able to capture memories, I am going to blog about them.  Follow if you want, or wait until I am caught up to see up-to-date news on our family.  There will be tons of cute pictures, a few snippets of detail, and maybe some things that will make you laugh out loud.  I hope you too are getting back into the swing of things as we start to change seasons.  And I really hope that you get some rays of light pouring into your lives too, you deserve it.

I'm bored...

Here is my list for the kids to look through when they get bored. What is on yours? Also, I know that by tomorrow afternoon they will already be complaining about the list, but the rare moments it works will be awesome.

Looking for something to do?  LOOK HERE:

read a book * draw pictures * paint * take pictures * sidewalk chalk the driveway * do a science experiment * complete a DIY project * run through the sprinklers * stay bored * knit * sew * make a video * ride bikes * play catch * bake something * play soccer * catch bugs * play with bubbles * sword fight * play hide and seek * explore outside * mazes * puzzles * word searches * mad libs * play a board game * UNO * SkipBo * Phase 10 * jump rope * ride scooters * playdough * fly kites * play frisbee * complete something from the summer boy book * complete something from the Things for Boys/Girls to make and do books * make lemonade * play in the castle room * write a Smashing News article * write a story or poem * write in your summer journal * reorganize your room * squirt guns * water balloons * make snow cones * Jenga * complete worksheets for screen time * empty dishwasher * color in a coloring book * write a letter * build with blocks * call a grandparent * build a train track * make your bed * play baseball * play with a sibling * build a fort * make paper airplanes * do origami * have a musical parade * do chores * make a paper chain * play cafe * take a nap * do an exercise video * practice math * interview people and write a report * write a book review * draw a self-portrait * help someone * take a bath * watch the clouds * go on a picnic in the backyard * rest on the screen porch * make a music video * lay on a blanket and watch the clouds * make a card for someone * read through a joke book * sketch a flower or plant growing outside * make a friendship bracelet * make smoothies * make popsicles * make a treasure map * turn up the music and dance * make sock puppets * put on a puppet show * dress up * climb a tree * make a picture book * roast marshmallows * build something out of the recycling * plan your ultimate vacation * build something with toothpicks and marshmallows * play outside in the rain * catch fireflies * read a chapter book aloud * run races in the yard * climb a tree * draw a comic strip * pick blueberries or blackberries * blow bubbles for the baby to chase * take a shower * Battleship * draw something new from the How to Draw books * go birdwatching * Electronics kit * do an act of service * study the scriptures * nerf gun fight * look under a rotting log * driveway tennis practice * write a play * sing a song