Trip to Kansas- Anniversary Flowers

Unfortunately the trip to Kansas included being away from Luke on our 8th anniversary. He sent me flowers to let me know he was thinking of me on our special day. It was such a sweet surprise. I am so grateful for Luke in my life. For the wonderful husband he is and for the amazing father he is to our children. Their favorite game to play with Daddy is basically hide and seek but you never know exactly what they will call him on any given day. They want to find the troll, the monster, the mean witch, the dragon, or the dog. Whatever it is they are so timid going around the house looking for him but, they squeal with excitement and run when we jumps from behind a door to get them. Occasionally if it has been awhile and they still haven’t found him they get food to feed to him to make him a nice troll or whatever it is so he is not too scary. I love watching them play and sometimes have to go through the house with them to coax them along( I won’t tell them I am scared out of my wits not knowing where he is going to jump out of). I love that he is so involved with them and willing to play along. Luke is also amazing at answering their questions. When they are outside and want to know what something is or how it works he tells them or finds the answer and then explains it all to them. They love their daddy time. He has been so busy this year with his new job, new calling as Bishop of our ward, and continuing his doctorate but he makes sure every minute he has with the kids counts. He also makes sure in his busy schedule that we have time for a date and we totally look forward to our uninterrupted time to be just us! I love you babe. Thanks for the flowers! They were beautiful!

Trip to Kansas-Having Fun at Kim’s

The kids and I made a quick trip to Kansas. It was actually for a whole week. We took Micali out of school and flew Dad up so he could help drive us down.  Devin and Chelsea were having their wedding reception and I had been thinking about trying to make it down to go to the Kansas City Temple open house. I didn’t think I would actually be able to get everything worked out but we did!

We spent a night over at Kim’s house. We met Marley’s would be girlfriend if we lived any closer. The kid’s loved playing with Molly. She was a lot more calm than Marley.

Watching a movie is much more fun with the proper head gear.

 

Kyson was so sweet reading them bedtime stories.

So I remember

One of my favorite times of day is talking to my girls after the bedtime routine is complete and they are laying in bed. This is when Micali tells me all about her day. She also asks lots of questions about random things.  A few nights ago we were laying there and she said, “Mom, I know there is a tooth fairy but are the any other kinds of fairies?” Because, on occasion, I like to tease her to get a reaction I said, “Oh! Your teacher hasn’t read you a story about the Finger Fairy yet?” That little thumb of hers popped out of her mouth so fast and she sat up in bed and said, “HUH?” We had a good laugh! And yes, now she knows I wasn’t serious!

Mid-March

Luke, his brothers, and Dad were able to go down to St. Louis and watch the NCAA Wrestling Finals. They enjoyed three full days of wrestling matches. He loved the opportunity to spend time with them. On the way back they stopped by for a cultural detour at Cahokia ruins which are a collection of dirt mounds that are huge. They enjoyed the road trip there and back and reconnected after so many years living apart.

Meanwhile all three kids decided to be sick while he was gone. We managed to have some fun though.

For St. Patrick’s day instead of adding green food coloring to any of their food we just had green smoothies the green of course was spinach.

Micali was the sick one this day.

While holding a sick Eli the next day

I was still able to be a photographer for a nice little fashion show. (Too bad I wasn’t able to fix their hair before Eli came down with the stomach flu.)

 

We took an intermission while Micali changed clothes and then she had a few more poses to share

For more entertainment, we got out balloons and, of course, took more pictures. It just-so-happens that it makes everything you do that much more exciting if you get to take a picture.

It wasn’t quite the fun weekend I had hoped to enjoy with the kids but we still made the best of it. The weather was so NICE like 70-80 degrees that week. We also spent time laying outside getting fresh air!

Abigail I want to take your picture…

She gets so excited and turns to the camera with a big smile and says CHEESE! Her eyes always close when she is sure she is smiling just perfectly.

Sometimes she likes getting her picture taken. Other times she wants NOTHING to do with it.

Appreciation

My little Abigail girl is teaching me so many things. I am grateful for that. She has been referred to as: a little firecracker, She’s the boss applesauce, spit-fire, hot-head and there are more. But most of the time I find myself amazed at the little person she is becoming. She knows what she wants. She knows how to get what she wants. I have learned a great deal of patience in allowing her to have her feelings and not getting in the way.

I just found a quote that I feel pretty much sums up life with her in the family: “While we try to teach our children about life, our children teach us what life is all about.

Abigail often allows me opportunities to slow down and appreciate things more. Today while I was chatting with my mom on the computer she came and took my hand and said come on mom. She led me to the rocking chair, and told me to sing. We enjoyed singing some of her recent favorites: Old McDonald and Popcorn Popping. Then I started tickling her and laughing. I know it should be easy to find moments to enjoy quiet one on one time with the kids but sometimes once the day gets going I forget to just sit down and wrestle and play and appreciate all the blessings I have.

I am glad Abigail is demanding of my time and helps me to see what life is all about.

Picnic time

Arrgh!

 

The plunger was NEW when this pirate swiped it to be his sword.