Friday, March 15, 2013

The Foot Book with the girls' favorite person...Daddy!

I love the little moments.

It's the little moments that we tend to forget, but sometimes leave the biggest impression on who we are when they are all seamed together in one wonderful life.

This was one of those moments for me.

I have been working really hard on cleaning out closets, bathrooms, desks, and dressers in all the girls' rooms upstairs.

I was showing John how hard we have been working, and showing him our laser-like precision in getting rid of clutter and teaching the girls to share what we have been blessed with, and this is the scene that was my favorite of the whole room tour.

I felt a little like Martha in Luke 10:40-42, "But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?  bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

John chose that part.

The part where you stop looking around for what needs to be done, and you do what needs to be done...time with little girls.

I just stood in the doorway and watched.

I witnessed them come to the room, one by one, following the voice of their dad.

I knew I didn't want to forget this moment.

There will many more times where dad reads to them, and introduces them to Dr. Seuss, Judy Blume, and Tolstoy, but this was a sweet reminder to me.

A reminder that I was doing something good, but sometimes I need to chose "that good part."

The part where the girls are snuggled in their beds listening to Anne of Green Gables. 

The part where I never turn Easton down when he asks me to tuck him in.

The part where A.J. just wants to stand in the kitchen and tell me story after story of his day.

The part where I glance at John at the dinner table and mouth the words, "I love you."

The part where I am Madie's shoulder to lean on, and her cheerleader in every endeavor.

Life is good.  Oh so good!

I am a blessed mama!







Monday, March 11, 2013

Easton is 13!!



Happy Birthday E-man!!

Easton officially became a teenager this year.

Easton is an amazing kid full of potential and energy!

This year's birthday started off with the Cecil tower of presents as always.

Nana and Papa spoiled Easton with a great spring getup, a fun magnetic dart board, a little treat and the promise of a night out!
 John, with the help of Uncle Ben, got this longboard put together just for E!

Do you think he was excited?






This was one of my favorite parts of the present opening...two little girls completely in love with their big brother.

Look at the way these two little ones surround A.J.

Boy, are we going to miss him next year!!



Here is the birthday girl!  Happy Birthday Melissa!  (Easton was born on Melissa's 21st birthday, so they have shared the day since the beginning!)

 Madie's friend, Andrew, and John and A.J. giving in to my relentless memory making!
 Tymber and Quinn taking a ride around the place!

When John and I first starting having children, (a million years ago) we decided that we wanted our home to be where the kids gathered.

We made special efforts to have food, room and lots of opportunities for fun so that we could have them here.

I dreamed of those days when teenagers would just show up and be a part of our family's life.

Well, those days are in full swing!

Sunday night we had a family get together to celebrate Easton and Melissa's birthdays, and the teenagers just kept showing up.

I love it!

I also love how Aunt Melissa "photo-bombed" the picture above.  (Who is the teenager now? :))



 Do you love the candles?

I am kinda a loser at making sure we have the right candles, and ice cream on hand!

Tonight was no exception!

"134"

"13" for Easton and "34" for Melissa!!

Brilliant!! I love it!!

The REESES PIECES covered cake was compliments of "Madison Designs"




 Brooke showing off her chocolate teeth!
 And Madie's friend Becca being mauled by cousins!

Grandma and baby Dieker just hanging out

Reese and Steve giving me a great father/son pose!

Since church was so early on Easton's birthday, we didn't get a chance to give him breakfast in bed, but he gladly accepted it the next morning from A.J.!


Look at that smile!

You can't beat hot carmel apple spice straight from the grocery store Starbucks!

As well as, a whip cream covered homemade waffle, fresh OJ, and sweet raspberries to eat in the warmth of your bed on a Monday morning!



Easton, we love you!

We cannot believe you are 13!!

Here are 13 amazing things about Easton that everyone should know, especially him on such a wonderful day!

Easton is a softie inside.  Even when he is picked on and puts on a tough exterior, he is soft on the inside.

Easton loves his little sisters.  He can be found every Sunday making up games with them, or watching a movie with them lined up beside him.

Easton works very hard in school.  Easton pushes himself all the time at school, and has made amazing strides in his education.

Easton is a gifted athlete.  He can excel at any sport he puts his mind to.  This year he tried wrestling for the very first time, and took NUMBER 1 in the District in his weight class as a 7th grader!

Easton loves to hear the details of the story.  Whether it is a car accident that he wants to know that everyone is ok, down to the upcoming weather.  He wants the details!

Easton is our early riser!  Always has been, and always will be.  He beats everyone up any day that is a sleep-in day.  (There aren't many of those)

Easton loves to snowboard and ski.  He not only has snowboarding gear, but he also owns ski gear too.  He loves both for different reasons, and loves to go up to the mountains every chance he can!

Easton has a testimony of Jesus Christ that he is willing to share with friends who aren't members of the church.  He wrote his testimony in a Book of Mormon this year, and gave it to one of his best friends.

Easton loves football in the Fall and lacrosse in the Spring, but will play either one, all out, every chance he can!

Easton has lots of friends.  They know that they can depend on him to stick up for them and protect them.  He is loyal and loving!

Easton loves his brother! He misses A.J. when he is gone.

Easton loves to be tucked in.  He loves when John or I go down and talk to him before bed. I love this!

Easton loves music!  He has figured out how to play the guitar by some program he found on the internet.

Easton loves to build things.  Whether he is building a new skateboard rail or a snowboarding ramp in the backyard, he is happy.

WE LOVE YOU EASTON!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!





Friday, March 8, 2013

Just a glimpse...into the good crazy!


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.