Cam spring soccer

Matt spring soccer

Ben spring soccer

 

And Ben's coach, this handsome man.

 

Jacob and one of his best friends since childhood. They were both coaching
their boys' teams and happened to be playing each other this particular day.
(The first photo above is of Ben and Gabe's Chase going for the ball. So fun.)

Hero worship

 I walked outside to this sight this afternoon. And almost died from the cuteness.

 That little boy on your left would do whatever it took to stay exactly in line with his dad.

 Sneaking a peak to make sure they are identical.

Give me a call if your sidewalk needs some pretend mowing. But don't say I didn't warn you.

Don't come crying to me if you die from not being able to stand the adorableness.

The moon tonight

Utah mountains

Love her so much

Pictures from this last weekend that made me laugh

My older kids are quite good at just smiling, letting me click away and getting several

good photos. (At least they are now. This wasn't always the case.) I usually get plenty of 

good pics of the younger kids too. But often, along with the good photos of the young
ones, I get some that make me laugh a lot.  Here are a few that did just that to me:

When this boy laughs, it makes my day. Love it so much.

 If you don't know that this would be Nate's signature look, you might need to get to

know him better. Mischievous would be a good description of Nathan boy.

 This was when I started taking photos of a certain two-year old.

 This was after I offered licorice for a good smile.

(I am most definitely not above bribery when it comes to photos.)

 Something in your mouth there Gracie girl?

I think we'll title this photo "Hairball." No explanation needed I believe.

I love this day...

...just because it reminds me that I am so ridiculously blessed.

My Mother's Day gift to myself

(With lovely cooperation from my kids of course.)

I love these pictures so much. And these kids of mine even more.

Sometimes I don't understand why I am so blessed to be a mother.

But I can honestly say it fills me with gratitude on my hard days

and on my not-so-hard days. My life is truly just good.

Boys and shoes

I have never in my life seen a child that wears out shoes like our Matt. And not even in
duration, but in the way the actual shoes wear out. It is crazy cakes. If you had held one
of the shoes you see below, you would have wondered if a Kleenex had replaced the sole.

(Before his mother threw these sad excuse for footwear away, he wanted to take
the shoelaces out. To remember these particular shoes by. Okay?)

I imagine it is because everything he does in life is happy and joyful and full of energy.

He doesn't slow down for a second. Ever. (Okay, sometimes when he sleeps. Sometimes.)

So if that means his shoes look like the above every few months, I'll take it.

That boy teaches me about how to be truly happy and full of life.

 And in more lovely news, my boys almost always (and I'm not kidding, nearly always) need

new shoes at the same time. Sigh. Oh well, the excitement on their faces when they saw

the shoes above were worth it. I love my kids. And the deprived life they live that makes

them overly grateful for everything. Especially bright, new shoes. With actual soles.

(Two of the above shoes had to be bought in the mens' section. No, I'm not kidding. I wish I was.

Why or why do they constantly mock my age?)

He asked me if he could listen to a conference talk on my phone

And already knew which one he wanted to hear again.

Love this sweet boy so very much.

Can she really be standing already?

 A little wary, as I'm quite positive the standing part was an accident.

Oh, but it quickly turns to being pretty proud of herself.

I love this baby girl so much it is ridiculous.

(In spite of the fact that I am way too old and tired to have my youngest reaching

milestones far ahead of her siblings. Why was sitting and playing so short-lived?)