Friendship

This is going to be a long post!!! I had kind of a tough week last week. I struggle a lot with feelings of inadequacy and I always wish that I was a better mom and a better person. It all boiled over last week. We are ward missionaries in our ward and last Tuesday I went out my friend Susan, another ward missionary, to visit a family that we are teaching how to be better member missionaries. But, we couldn't go until Josh got back from work. And as we waited, I lost it. My kids were misbehaving, I felt stressed because I didn't feel completely prepared, and my house was probably messy, like it always is. Susan could tell that I was having a hard time and so the next day she showed up on my doorstep with flowers. What a sweet lady!! It made think of the quote that says, "God does notice us and watches over us, but it is usually through another person that He meets our needs, therefore it is vital that we serve each other in the kingdom." What a blessing she was to me that day, and those flowers have continued to brighten my day and keep me happy, especially when we all had the stomach flu last week. THANK YOU SUSAN!! Then I thought about how much friendship has meant to me throughout my life. I just wanted to say thank you to all of you for being such great friends. You have touched my life and helped change me in a way that would never have happened had we not crossed paths. I look up to, and love all of you.

Aren't the flowers beautiful!!!

Ashley, I'm so glad that Danny found you. You are such a neat lady, and I look forward to getting to know you better.

I'm so glad that you're my sister-in-law Hayley!!! Even though we don't get to see you, EVER we think about you guys lots. I love you and am glad that Greg has a wife like you.

I don't know what I would do without my sisters!!! Jen, and Steph, I look up to you both so much!! You are both such great moms. I couldn't ask for better sisters.

This picture is so old, but it's one example of how you were always able to make me laugh Steph.

I never thought that a sister-in-law would be such a great friend, but you are Jess. I'm really glad that we had the opportunity to live so close in Pocatello. Even though we live far away from you now I'm glad that we still talk. You are wonderful.

If there was anyone that made being a mom look easy it would be you Marisa!! You are such a great mom and are so crafty. Maybe someday I'll be like you. Right now I'm just trying not to go crazy!!!

Remember Knightline Amy? This photo is at Nationals in California, forever ago. You were then and still are such a nice person.You are the funnest person I know Brooke!! You are the best.

I think that roommates are one of the only people that see you at your good times and at your bad times. I'm sure that you have seen me at both. Thanks for being a true friend Danielle.

There are very few child hood memories without you in them Jessica. We had so much fun together!!! And now we're both moms!! How crazy!!! I'm really glad that we are in touch. You are awesome.

You are such a strong person Kami!! I am so glad that you guys moved up here!!! You have been such wonderful friends!!! We need to have a game night again!!

You are a true friend Tiff!!! I'm so grateful for your friendship. Even though you got married and I went on a mission and our lives have gone in different directions you have always kept in touch. You are the greatest!!!!!

You are the most friendly person Wendy!!! From the very beginning you were so nice to us. Thanks for staying in touch.

Of course I have to mention my mom. I'm so glad you're my mom!!! You are such a wonderful lady and an amazing grandma!! Thanks for doing all you did mom, even if it made you a little crazy. I don't think I could make it without you and dad.

He's going to be embarrassed that he is the only man who is shown, but how can I not mention Josh. Our six year anniversary is in May and it amazes me how much my love for him grows more and more every year that we are married. He is such a wonderful husband, father, and friend. I am so honored to be his wife!!

You make think that this is sentimental and cheesy but oh well!! Thank you all for making my life better with your friendship.

Trip to Grandmas

I've always loved my family but I didn't realize how much until we moved up here a year and a half ago. We had the opportunity to travel home last weekend to see J's brother get married, and even though it was so chaotic, it was so nice to be with family that we hadn't seen for a long time. I can see more and more why the Lord put us into families. It would be almost impossible to make it through this life with out them. I just hope that I can be worthy to have them forever. Here are a bunch of pictures from our weekend. The weather was SO nice that the kids didn't even have to wear jackets outside.

Bubba testing out the trampoline.

Having fun outside.

Bubba fell asleep in my moms arms. She is such a wonderful grandma!!

Bubba was a little terror at the reception so we had to leave early and I was so sad that my kids didn't have more time to play with their cousins that they hadn't seen for so long. Luckily, everyone ended up over at Josh's parent's not long after we left. They all had so much fun, especially Bubba who took bites out of three pieces of chocolate cake before I discovered what he was doing. I swear, my kids can smell sugar a mile away.
Of course you can't eat chocolate cake without making a mess of it.

Bubba helped grandma put the last of the bird seed into the feeder and then decided to wear the bag.

He kept running into the wall. Here he is stuck in the corner.

Apparently he couldn't get out of the corner.

My Little Boy is Growing Up!!!

Smalls will be five months next week!!!! I can't believe how fast time flies!! He is such a happy baby!! Always ready to smile!! And he is so mellow. He is grabbing things now and is content to sit under his toy bar alot of the time. He discovered his feet this week which means that it is a challenge to keep socks on his feet. He is the best kind of surprise that could have happened to our family and we sure love him.

Emma put her sunglasses on him. She's trying to dress him up already!!!
She sure is a great big sister and there have been alot of times that I could not have made it without her.

Bubbas Headpieces and More

It's time for another installment of Bubba's headpieces . I can't get enough of this kid!! He is so entertaining.

This is really gross, but of course kids don't care about germs. He just dumped the garbage out and plopped it on his head.

Grandma made this blanket. Isn't it cute.

This is the bag that holds all the blocks that you can see on the floor. Luckily the back is netting so he can breathe. One night Bubba was playing on this bouncy seat (it's cover was in the wash). All of a sudden he said "Beep,Beep". He had made it into a car. I had no idea that he had such an imagination already. Daddy's sandals, on the wrong feet.

Bubba had just finished his chocolate treat and decided he wanted some of sister's popsicle. He wanted it so much he had to crawl on the table. Any ideas how to keep kids of the table? I push in the chairs but he's up there all the time now.