Life is crazy around here!
Not the crazy, you-wish-it-would-stop crazy.
The crazy that has you supporting one child here, another one there. Lots of homework, chores, reading, food, and of course...laundry.
It is also the crazy kind where you have siblings watching a choir concert featuring another, quiet moments of love that you would miss if you didn't take the time to witness it, and the realization that your baby is closer to toddlerhood than birth!
The empty box above is a fun example of our crazy.
I got these cookies from Costco, opened them at the house, and handed one to Annie.
As I handed her one, I realized that it was really quite hard. These cookies weren't cheap, so I decided I would return them or exchange them for ones that weren't so hard. I set them aside yesterday to return, and this is what I found by morning.
Not a single one left.
I guess, when you have walked home from the bus stop and you want something sweet, you make it happen.
This picture was taken place in the morning after the first wave of kids had headed off to seminary and school.
These sleeping beauties just kept sleeping.
I opened the curtains and the blinds.
I sang them the BYU fight song.
Nothing.
They were exhausted.
This seems to happen a lot lately. The good crazy has caused us to L-O-V-E our sleep!
John is often heard saying, "One of these days, we are all just going to sleep all day."
Keep dreaming sweetie.
I know this is just a cereal bowl to you, but to me, it was a very sweet, almost silent, moment in the midst of a busy morning.
Our kids never eat cereal. Ok, almost never.
John occasionally buys some generic Fruity Pebbles to get crazy, but not everyday.
But, this morning, I was getting out the pancake mix, and found a huge box of Reeses Puffs.
So I tried an experiment.
I set it out with bowls, spoons and milk and magic happened.
My kids ate cereal before school!
Breakfast usually consists of breakfast casseroles, oatmeal, bacon straight out of the oven (yes, the oven! So easy, and LOVE it), and pancakes, etc.
But, this morning, Madie and A.J. sat in silence, only the clanking of their spoons on the side of their overfilled cereal bowls.
They ate and ate. I sat there with a lighter breakfast load, and had time to think about the fact that these two won't be in our home much longer.
They will be headed to bigger and better things than Reeses Puffs.
I miss them already!
After years of a broken dresser in another room, Brooke got a new dresser.
This may sound like no big news to everyone else, but this dresser situation has been adding to the crazy.
The drawers kept breaking, the clothes were never put away, and Brooke could never be successful in the laundry battle.
Now, she is a happy camper!
And so am I!!
Somehow this picture was captured in this set of glimpses in our life right now. I was going to just delete it, but I thought I would give an A.J. football update.
A.J. is so excited to have his senior year of football.
He has waited very patiently to get in there and do his thing.
He is busy with baseball and school, but he has his eyes set on summer.
Not for sun and surf like most teenage boys, but for football in full swing.
He has been throwing with his receivers, and working out to maximize what he has been given.
I love him.
I love his desire to be great.
I love his humility when I ask him direct questions about his abilities.
He puts on a confident face, which is good, by he is relying on good ole' fashioned hard work.
This is just a fun moment with Annie.
John received a package today that contained bubble wrap.
And, as everyone knows, bubble wrap is the most exciting thing that can come in the mail to a four year old!
Look at that smile, and that sweet dimple.
I love Miss Annie.
This basket above was what John got in that bubble wrapped box.
It is the proof that John rocks at what he does.
He not only supports this huge crew, he does an award-winning job at it!
He and I get to go to Catalina Island!!!
This fun evening continued with kiddos doing a variety of things.
I love how telling it is of the adventures of our family!
Ellie was practicing piano above, while Annie took an extra roll of crescent rolls from dinner, and made her own little "biscuits" in her own little kitchen!
GO ANNIE! You are going to be an amazing mom someday!
Easton relaxed on the couch, catching up on social media...
And the treats from the cancelled New Beginnings :( were enjoyed by all!
The next day Ellie had a choir concert that we headed to.
The little girl above accompanied the choir. To say that it was impressive would be the understatement of the year.
She was INCREDIBLE!
So was the choir! They did an entire performance of Disney songs.
It was so amazing that John did not look at the program to count how many were left after each number. (Ok he did, but it really was good)
This choir teacher should seriously win an award.
She is incredible!
She loves what she does, and it shows.
Thank you Mrs. Wurst! (So not the "worst", the complete opposite!)
Ellie was surrounded by love!
Love you sweetheart!
Life is crazy.
The good kind.
I love being a mother.
I love that I get to be here when they leave to face the world, and I love that I am here when they come home to the safety of our home.
I even love the laundry.
