Meeting Mateo

My younger sister had a sweet little baby last week, so today, I took several of the kids
(those that were at home and did not have to work) to meet her new little one and to tend
her other darling kids so that Megan could take the baby in for an appointment.

We loved being with her sweet kids, playing at the park, having fun in the backyard
and mostly, holding that adorable little boy. It was a good few hours for sure.  

Paper cutting class

Annie and I took the most incredible paper cutting class tonight from this darling expert
in the field. And Annie was an absolute natural! It ignited a big time fire under this girl
and she planned all sorts of projects on the hour drive home. I cannot wait to see
where it takes her, as big things are coming for our Annie. I have no doubt.

Scout camp

A large piece of my heart just left for six days. He is going to love it and was crazy excited.
I'm so thrilled for him. This boy is goodness, energy and fun wrapped up in one twelve-year-old
person. I adore him. And can't wait to have him home again and to hear all about his week.

Mary's Meals

Jacob spent a week in Scotland, earlier this month, with this incredible organization.
He continues to serve on their international board and Mary's Meals continues to grab a huge
piece of our heart.Whenever he is away with them, I just feel gratitude to my core. Here are
a few pictures of his time there that was not spent in meetings and in helping to train others.

Oh we love Mary's Meals. And oh I love my husband.

Especially for Youth

I woke up just after 5:30am this morning, to drive an hour to pick up six kids
who had spent a week at EFY. And it was beyond worth it. Because the hour
home with these cool teenagers was fabulous. I learned every detail of their
week and listened to them talk and laugh and tease each other. I loved it all.

This darling girl had such an incredible time. I'm so thankful for her and her goodness
and light and what makes her happy and for her kindness. She loved EFY just as
much as her brother did last year. I'm so grateful. What a great week for our Annie.

Thunderbirds

Just one question

Do you think Heavenly Father sent a hoarder for my last child out of pure amusement?

Breathe in, breathe out.

Just some information, for those interested:
She most certainly did not go to bed this way.
There are no toys in her bedroom.
Apparently bedtime field trips are her thing.
But only to places her mom can't see her out of bed.
She had one blanket when she was tucked in for the night.

Give me strength.

First timer

This handsome guy loved his first cub scout day camp. And his mother

and his Primary president are both beyond grateful for fabulous leaders

who take their entire day and make things like this possible.

Celebrating this guy

He is kind and good and brilliant and funny and wise and loves the Lord with all
of his heart. Everything incredible in life that I have is because of the person
and husband and father he chooses to be. We adore him to the point of crazy.

Happy Father's Day to the man that has exceeded my expectations in every possible way!

This child

Could we talk for a minute about the incredible adorableness of this child?

Okay then...that about covers it. Thanks for your time.

I told you...

...he was growing up too quickly.

Youth conference

What is it about a large group of youth gathered in a church parking lot on their way to a significant
activity that just feels powerful? I loved being a part of it, even for just a few minutes. 

I'm so excited for them. Good things are coming in the next three days.

The rain and the temple

Two of my favorite things. Mostly the latter.

The kids and their incredible dad

Jacob has been traveling a lot for work lately. Really a lot actually. And while we are so grateful for
how well he takes care of all of us, we definitely miss him. And he misses being around more often.
So last week, he decided to take a day off (something he is rarely able to do) and wanted to use that
time to do some activities with each of the kids he knew they would love. And then take me out for a
date that night. Of course, he started out the morning by running ten miles, just so he wouldn't be a
total underachiever. Good grief, he is amazing in every way. And we are so, so grateful for him.

These littles wanted to go out to breakfast. So that is exactly what the three of them did.

Then this guy thought a round of miniature golf sounded fun with his dad. Which it was for sure.

Horseback riding was the obvious choice for Annie. But the best part?
The two horses they rode at the barn were named Annie and Jake. Of course.

And the day ended for the kids with a round of regular golf with the older boys.

I'm so thankful for the dad Jacob chooses to be. He lives life with incredible balance for
someone with such a demanding job. Not one of us gets it right right every time, but he does
a whole lot of the time and for that I will always be grateful. Boy howdy, we adore him.

Summer!

It's official. We are so incredibly excited. And it is going to be a GOOD one.

Sixth grade graduation

In a strange turn of events, the last seven years flew by in about 52 seconds. And that is the only
reason I can figure out for Matt graduating this morning. I just can't get over it. To be honest though,
I don't get overly emotional about my kids growing up, because I absolutely love the people they
are becoming. But this morning, after I took his picture on the front porch and he started to
walk away for his last bus ride of elementary school, I definitely got a catch in my throat.

Oh I love this boy and his incredible goodness. He makes me so very happy.

And then, very shortly after, I was on my way to his graduation at the school.
They did a great job and I was just so proud of our Matt, I could burst. I am so
grateful to be a mom, so grateful to be his mom and just so grateful for this life
I never could have imagined, but has exceeded my expectations in every way.

You are amazing my Matthew! I'm so proud of who you are and all that you accomplish.

May phone pics

This handsome guy has already earned two merit badges. Which is amazing to me as
he just turned twelve a few weeks ago. I love having good things for my kids to strive
for and achieve. And grateful for my awesome chicklets who want to do just that. 

Annie learned how to do stage makeup so she could help out her theater teacher
the night of the play, with all of the faces that needed to be painted. This particular
night of learning, her friend painted Annie as a cheetah. Too cute in my opinion.

I truly believe I live in the best neighborhood in the world. I mean it. I am surrounded by
good people and I'm so grateful for them. And that was only proven to me once again when
our sweet next door neighbors brought over this rose bush a few days ago to tell us they
were thinking of us. They had been at the nursery and saw this particular rose bush labeled
"The Maggie." They wanted us to have it to remember our sweet puppy we had to give away.

Good grief, so much kindness.

A newly mowed lawn, my favorite. And on this particular day, a very small way to thank
my handsome husband for taking all of the kids to play with family for a couple of days
and absolutely insisting I stay home to have some quiet and get some extra sleep.
I truly married the kindest person I have ever known. 

This husband of mine is such a deliberate and amazing dad. Every week, he sits down with
each of the kids and talks over their successes and needed improvements of the last week.
And then goes over the goals he asks them to set for the coming week. I'm so grateful.

Such a small world

This picture was so fun to receive from Jacob's good friend, Robert. Jacob and Robert worked
together when we lived in St. Louis (good grief, more than twelve years ago). He and his darling
wife and family are some of our favorite people ever. And we have kept in touch, but definitely
didn't expect a picture of Robert with Jacob's parents sent our way all the way from Lebanon.
How crazy is that? And how small is the world we live in? I love when incredible things happen.

Preschool graduation

Even though this adorable boy has one more year until Kindergarten, he was still a part
of preschool graduation today with the cute boys in his class. And it was absolutely darling.

We are so grateful for his amazing teacher and her goodness and kindness to Nate.
How we could be just over a year away from him starting school blows my mind.

Oh we love this boy so much. He is just plain incredible.

Second grade program

I took this picture of our Ben after his second grade program today. What a fun experience and
what an incredible boy. It really is such a privilege to be his mom. But oh man, time is a flying.
How in the world he could be days away from being a third grader, I will never know.

I love this boy so much. And am so ridiculously proud of the young man he is becoming.

Our little girl turns big

A few days back, we replaced the crib Grace had been sleeping in with her own big girl bed.
It did something to my heart to realize this was the last time it would happen with one of
our kids. But I also loved how excited she was to be treated like one of the bigger kids.

I took the first picture right after she climbed into bed
and went back and took the second after she had fallen asleep.

I love this baby girl so much. And cannot believe how quickly she is growing up.