Happy Mother's Day

I love my Mom. She has taught me so much about how to be a good mother. She is an example of great faith. I am grateful for her in my life. Have a great day Mom.

Mighty Fine

When Toby and Aspen were gone for the weekend at Youth Conference, Isaac, Hazel and I did some fun stuff on our own. We went to dinner at Mighty Fine.

There is a hand washer machine. Like a little car wash for your hands. Stick the in, the sprayers wash them with soap and rinse them. You dry them off. Then you get a sticker (kids will do anything for a sticker.)

Mighty Fine serves hamburgers, hotdogs, fries, shakes, and lemonade. That's it. And they are goooood.

It's one of our favorite places to eat. And we'll miss it.

Going on a Field Trip

Hazel went on a field trip to a local farm/rescue/education zoo. So Toby and I went with her.

We went on a hay ride, learned about milking a cow, saw some native texas animals, and walked through a fairy garden.

I can't believe this is the last time I'll have a kindergartener, and that this is the last time I'll go to this farm (every one of my children have come here on a field trip). It is sad to see this time pass. Sometimes I just want to pause at parts and just enjoy these momennts with my kids. I'm excited for the new adventures that older kids bring. But I will miss and cherish the little kid moments we've had.

Talking to Moses

Hazel loves to Skype Hester so that she can see baby Moses. He is cute. And we loved seeing his little personality.

I hope this is the end

When you start your day in the dentist's chair at 7:00 am to get a 2 1/2 hour root canal that got complicated and resulted in not being able to open your jaw very much, it can only get better.

Right?

Better late than never. Right?

I know that this is a year late. We'll just call it a happy first anniversary to hester post (even though I'm late on that as well). Anyway, all the pics in the slide show are also on flickr. Most of these pictures went into the album that I created for Hester last summer of her wedding.

Thoughts on motherhood

Rainy days make me wish my kids were home with me all of the time. I love these kinds of days. They feel cozy to me. But they would be more enjoyable with my family home with me doing cozy things, homey things like reading, playing games, building forts to hide out in, or elaborate toy cities, watching movies, making cookies, sewing, or playing quietly. It's days like this that I wish I homeschooled all my children and that they could be with me always. Don't get me wrong, I love a good by-myself-day as much as the next mom, but mostly I love being with my kids. (It also probably explains why I take my kids on long road trips where we can be all cooped up together in the car for weeks on end. It's just one of the reasons anyway.) Though I work hard to teach my children independence and give them opportunities to do things on their own and to grow, I really enjoy being able to watch over them, to give them comfort, encouragement and love. I guess it's all part of the growing up process - for them and for me. And so I send them off every morning and look forward to their return at the end of the day. I guess that might just be a little bit how our Heavenly Father feels about us. He has sent us here to grow and learn. He watches over us and waits for us to return home to Him. So, in the meantime, I will enjoy the privilege of being a mother. I will keep my children close, while still letting them learn and grow. I will do my best. And I will savor the moments I have with my children as we all work on returning home.