Snapshots of Summer

We have been having fun despite the heat this summer. We have been to 3 museums in the past week, {More pics to come soon on that} and have been enjoying our time together.

Who doesn't love a good push around in the laundry basket? Audree LOVES to "Help" her brothers by picking them up and squeezing them...(and sometimes dropping them)

Looks who's walking now!! Big boy....

Olivia came out of her room like this on Sunday...

We love playing with cousins...

We love to swing after playing in the pool to cool off...

Another pick me up face...how can I resist?

The End

Enjoying the breezy weather last week

Joyful Mother of Children

I have the best job in the world. Staying at home with my 4 little munchkins has brought me so much joy...however 4 kids under 4 can also be challenging to say the least. After a L-O-N-G parenting day I vented on Facebook and spoke to some of my favorite mother's. My sweet Sister-in-law Christi inspires me and she recommended this bookA Joyful Mother a Children I promptly went to Amazon and bought it along with some other parenting books. I feel like this book came just at the right time. I wish I could share with you all of things I have learned from this book and the many notes I have written, but here are a few of the chapter titles.

Ten ways to become a joyful mother

The Best Secret Weapon is Praise

The Magic of Moments

She talks about so many relatable issues and I am already excited to read it again. I feel more at peace in my chaos...if that is even possible.

Here is a sweet motherhood moment....The girls had a restaurant for their stuffed animals. I know someday I will look back and wish they were little again...I am cherishing the adventures along the way.

Another sweet moment....this smart boy loves to be held...and is sad when I don't pick him up....see?

{Saguaro Lake}

Can you think of any better way to spend a cool Monday evening? We spend last FHE enjoying the beauty of Saguaro Lake and enjoying our time together. Doug called about 3:00 pm that day and said it's so nice outside, let's go fishing! Our girls love spending time outdoors with their dad. They have no problem baiting the line, touching the fish, and getting down and dirty.

Because it was so spur of the moment we just went as is....grabbed some McDonald's on the way...and went!
So don't look too closely at their outfits...I am sad I didn't dress them nicer....I knew that it was a beautiful place, but didn't know that it would turn into such an awesome photo op! I will have to take them back dressed nicer.

Sweet face...

Notice a difference in my Dougie? He has lost 50lbs! Go Doug...we are proud of you!!

Looks who's back for the summer? Sweet Regiane....my house is clean again!

She loves her babies...

Isn't she CUTE!!

The girls love to dance and music is on in our house almost every day. So when my talented cousin Laura announced that she was teaching dance classes in her garage we Jumped at the chance. The girls go once a week and learn tumbling, ballet, and other dance techniques. They showed off the other night at their recital. They danced to a song called "SHE'S CUTE!" And it was...they did a great job and had their 1 minute of fame.

(Despite Olivia's frowning face, she really love dance class...just doesn't love taking pictures.....I wonder why)

Here are the girls with the cousin Abigail and their friend Janishre.

Performing

All of the classes with Miss Laura our teacher

And wasn't it lucky that the next day was our ward primary talent show. The girls danced with our cousin Abigail and did great!

Summer is here...

Nothing better than a kiddo pool on a hot day....we have a love hate relationship with summer at our house. Doug loves it....money for our family. I hate it....I miss his help and just miss him.

Thankfully our Regiane is coming for another summer of fun!

Clark loved it...he is all boy for sure

 Grant did not want to be splashed...and the cold water was a little too much for him

Well, maybe if my sweet helpful daddy helps me in the pool, it will be ok....

One down....one to go

More walk than crawl these days.....our big boy Clarkie is walking now....cute little drunken sailor.

Mr. Grant thinks that it looks like fun too....he just is now taking his first little steps....tumbles and busy times at our house....

Can someone tell them to stop growing....

These sweet 4 1/2 year olds are so fun these days.....They say the cutest things and are so helpful too....

I Love to see the Temple

This past weekend we were able to go to Thatcher for the Gila Valley Temple Open House. I grew up in Thatcher will many wonderful members of the LDS church around me. The closest temple is here in Mesa (about 3 hours away) and many people from Thatcher would travel to Mesa to attend the temple. Words cannot express how happy I am for the residents of the Gila Valley to have their own temple.

The whole town is buzzing with excitement. It's so exciting that everyone can go in the temple and take a tour of what happens in there. The girls loved it. I started crying just looking at the pamphlet. The girls loved the Angel Moroni on top of the temple. We left the boys at home so that we could have this special time with our girls....they would have been hard to hold onto.

I think that Doug and I will be attending this temple more than the Mesa Temple because we have so many babysitters in Thatcher. It was breathtaking inside and defiantly a memorable experience.


Also while we were down there Doug took the girls 4-wheeling with his brothers. After the boys woke up we went out to ride for a little bit.

Uncle Tommy has this awesome 4 seater Prowler that the boys took a ride in. I drove it too...it was nice...my kind of  4-wheeling.

We also were able to attend my new nephew's blessings....what a fun family weekend! I am so grateful for the Gila Valley and my family.

The last of the 20's

29 and happy. Spent the morning doing laundry and reading to the girls. Waited for my best bday friend to take me on a date. Isn't it so crazy that Doug and I have the same bday? Our mom's were in labor at the same time. It's fun to celebrate together.

 My sweetie brought me some flowers and the girls made some cards.

We went here and had the whole place to ourselves...He placed 5th for the day and I placed 7th....(however only 8 people had come that day....):)

He is adorable right? Don't you just love him? I do....he is such a wonderful man.

We had a yummy dinner here....you know free food tastes better? They give you a free dinner on your bday....the checkout guy didn't believe us.

Got my ear's re-peirced...almost hurt worse than 2 c-sections....nah....looks like I need some color and a hair style no?

Had 2 yummy bday cakes brought my my sister and my good friend Angie...

I am a lucky girl.