Porchtraits

A few days back, the young women leaders in our church group gave the
graduating seniors the sweetest gift--these gorgeous photos taken by one of my
favorites, Nicole Steed Photography (who is one of their fabulous leaders).
They were just quickly done at each girl's homes and seriously, talk about amazing.

I'm so grateful for incredibly kind people and how they treat my kids. It really means
the world to this mom. And we all know photos are my love language, so there's that.

Strange, but great

My view for the next couple of hours. I know that compared to real problems
during this strange time of life, this isn't that big of a deal. But for the record,
sitting outside, waiting for Jacob to be finished with his septum surgery is not
my favorite. I know it could be much worse, so I'm grateful. But I'd be even
more grateful if they let me be with my husband while he is waking up
from anesthesia. And not just for my own amusement.

I asked Jacob to let the people inside know that I am his service wife
(kind of like a service dog, but with less legs), in the hopes they would
let me in. Strange that didn't work. I was positive it would.

Now just counting down the seconds until I can take my handsome husband
home and let him heal and recover from what he refers to as his "nose job."

We have a pretty great life. Strange. But great. I'm so thankful.

Utah high school musical theatre awards

Utah high school musical theatre awards last night for this beautiful girl.
Yes, it was online. Yes, they were mostly social distancing in a backyard, in order
to watch it together. Yes, they all dressed up like they were attending in person.
Yes, I'm so proud of our Annie, her friends, her director and her school, I could burst.

(Spoiler alert: something really big happened last night and as soon as
I get the photo, to announce it properly, I will share. Oh the happy!)

Soccer's greatest fan

While this boy was on his mission, he missed three things in particular--
soccer, his family and music. In that order. Kidding. Kind of. But not really.

But today is the day that soccer is coming back. It may not be with fans and
the players may be a little rusty from weeks of no practice. But it is back.
And he is so very happy. Which makes me so very happy.

Have I mentioned how much I love having this boy home?

And...they are finished!

This darling boy is officially a 3rd grader now. He finished his final work,
bright and early this morning, as is his nature. And now is ready for summer.
Bring on the fun, this stud is ready. Good grief, we sure love him like crazy.

And this little beauty never did make it out of her pajamas today, but she did
advance to 1st grade. Her Kindergarten work is officially done and she is now
considered a grown up first grader. Love this baby girl something fierce.

Sixth grade {virtual} graduation

Sixth grade graduation for this darling boy this morning.

We are so proud of you Ben and so grateful for your brilliant mind,  your hilarious personality and your incredibly good heart. 
What a strange, yet wonderful, celebration for our boy and his friends.

A good night

These kids have thee best dad. He works so hard, plays so hard, gives so hard.

Even though he'd already run many a mile up a mountain this morning,
then worked incredibly hard at his job all day, he still decided to take the
three youngest up the canyon on a hike tonight. So that they could all get
out and have fun and also, so I could have a couple of hours on my own.

Jacob is just the best. These kids are the cutest. And I was able to get
in some extra exercise and also a bit of rest. It was a good night.

This boy

This boy is such a stud. Even if he isn't graduating high school, it is still hugely
significant that he is graduating from the 6th grade. And that he has missed out on all of
the parties, excitement and ceremonies of the last several weeks of elementary school.

But instead of complaining and acting like life is hard, he just keeps doing his daily
homework, practicing his piano, playing outside, making us all laugh, helping in
the house and yard and just being all around fabulous and wonderful.

I'm so proud of him. I sure wish he wasn't missing out on so much, but if he has to, I sure am
impressed with his attitude and goodness. Ben was born amazing. And that has not only never
gone away, it has actually intensified throughout the years. It is such a privilege to be his mom.

Annie's senior pictures

My darling, hilarious, gorgeous, brilliant, happy, positive, creative, kind, artistic, incredible Annie Linn Allen.
I will love these senior photos forever. Thank you Heather Larsen Photo! I'm so very grateful.

And I just have to add, not only is this girl good to the core and beautiful and hilarious and amazing, but she
has never once complained, in the last many weeks, for all that she has lost. Not once. It has broken my
mother's heart to watch all that was taken from her during her senior year, but you would never know it by
 how she acted or in her words. She's absolutely unreal to me and I'm just so deeply grateful for her.

My greatest gift

For Mother's Day every year, I tell my kids they don't need to get me a single thing.
The only gift I need is for them to happily smile and cooperate while I take photos of
them. And that is exactly what they did last week. And I am a huge fan of the result.

I love being a mom. I especially love being their mom. And having all six
of my chicklets together again feels like the greatest Mother's Day gift of all.

Probably because it is.

Motherhood and trying

I've spent a good amount of time, the last couple of days, in prayer and
thanksgiving, for these women who have influenced my life and made me a
better person and a better mother. Because nearly all of them have finished their
mortal journey, I've had to ask my Father in Heaven to please make sure they
know of my gratitude and love and of the privilege it is to be a part of their family.

For a variety of reasons, Mother's Day isn't always the easiest holiday for many, yet
even when it feels difficult for me of late, when I stop to think about how much God
loves His daughters and how tremendous they are at mothering (whether they have
children of their own or not), I can't help but feel grateful and humbled and content.

Happy Mother's Day to so many of you who I love and admire and strive
to emulate in my own mothering journey. You are doing an incredible job.
And the good news is it has nothing to do with how you feel about it,
but rather how God feels about you. If today is hard for you, I'm so very
sorry. I'm praying for you. Keep going sweet friends. We've got this.

And by "got" this, I mean we get to keep trying.
And really, isn't that exactly what being a mother is all about?

Happy We Get To Keep Trying Day dear friends! I adore you.

My favorite

 Date night with my favoritest of humans. He's the best.

As is this second photo. Clearly.

A whole lot of miscellaneous on this Thursday afternoon

Overheard by an older sibling during dinner cleanup the other night,
"Have you ever actually used that broom to sweep or do you just dance with it?"

 

Oh spring, you are something else.

This is how Denali girl spends her entire day, after running with Jacob in the morning.
Just being as close to her true love as possible, as he works behind that closed door
you see behind her. Waiting for that door to open, in between calls. And when it does,
like a cat out of kale, she flies into the room, lays down and sighs with joy and contentment.

Oh I love Jacob Allen—a lot

Jacob's pre-op appointment went well yesterday. Except the part where we were

waiting for the doctor to come in and I looked up and realized, for the smartest
person I've ever know, he really struggles with how to wear a face mask.
Fine, maybe he was just trying to make me laugh. And it worked.

In other news, that second photo...scroll down at your own risk. Jacob has told
me quite a few times, he has invisible eyebrows. Or disappearing eyebrows,
at best. I don't agree with him, but in a moment of quarantine boredom,
I convinced him to let me show him the alternative. We laughed until we cried.
And if you had seen the kids' faces when he showed them, you would
not have been disappointed. We are going to need this pandemic to end.

Stat. 

 

Celebrating seniors

My sweet, amazing girl. Today, her high school celebrated the seniors.
They did such a tremendous job. Every single person involved was so
careful, so protective, so kind, so full of love for this tremendous
class of 2020. It did something to my heart to watch it.

And my Annie. She is goodness beyond what I can even imagine.
She is so hilarious and happy and grateful and good. She truly
makes the world better just by being in it. She makes me better
just by being around her. I'm so honored to be her mom.
And am SO proud of this huge accomplishment of hers.

What a good day.

My walk this morning

This morning was by far the earliest I've gone on my walk since we
began quarantine. And just for the record, I finished it a couple of hours
ago. Just so you can be a little less concerned over my laziness.

Sweet little love

My sweet boy

Just teaching this guy how to make pizza rolls for Sunday dinner. I'd say he did a pretty great job.

Our darling stepsister

When Annie was in 5th grade, our family lived in Massachusetts. The school
she attended had a play for the older elementary kids that was a pretty big deal.
And this particular year of performing in the play, she was cast as a stepsister.
It is one of my favorite memories, as I saw my girl fall in love with all things theatre.

Fast forward to her current senior year. And the play that she was to perform
in over a week's time in March. Her final performance in a play during her
school years. Remember what she was cast as then? You've got it. A stepsister.

So in honor of the cuteness of the above story, behold, four photos of our darling
girl as a stepsister. At the beginning of her acting career and at the end (at least as far
as public school). I love these pictures so much. And this girl of mine even more.

"Is there like a website or a pledge or what?"

I love this kid so crazy much. We were just watching an episode of Amazing Race
(because, well, quarantine) and a dad/daughter team was really struggling. I made the
flippant remark that they appeared to be on the verge of parental divorce. Ben turned
to me and said, "Wait, is that a real thing?" I told him it was and he replied,
"So hold on, is there like a website or a pledge or what?"

Me thinks. This boy seems a little too interested in this idea. But oh my word, I cannot
quit laughing. My kids are the best. Even if it appears. I will have less of them soon.

One of my favorite people ever

And then... AND THEN... On our way home from Annie's pictures,
we stopped to visit with my best friend. So I could meet her for the first time.
(Settle down people, we drove by when her family was outside riding bikes
and playing, we weren't partying together in their home or anything.)

It's a long story and while I'm being funny about the details (and a
little presumptuous about the best friend thing, just dreaming here,
folks), it truly is the first time I've met the darling Nancy, who I have
been online friends with for years. And she, and her family,
are even better in person. Like pretty much my favorites ever.

So tonight's meeting is genuinely one of the best things that has happened
to me all year. Hence, the miscellaneous photo that clearly represents
the occasion. Actually, I guess it does in these days of social distancing.
Life is so weird right now. So weird. But also, pretty dang wonderful.

Pictures of my girl

Annie girl had her senior pictures tonight. I'm so grateful it was something that could
still happen during this quarantine, especially since we booked the session quite a while
ago. The photographer was really wonderful and I cannot wait to see how these pictures
turn out. Especially the ones in Annie's third outfit change. Take a look at that last photo
and see if it doesn't make you laugh as hard as it did me. Completely Annie's idea and
it is pure genius. Love this girl and her gorgeous, happy, hilarious self something crazy. 

 {Heather Larsen Photography found here}