Just Diggin' up Dinosaur Bones!

This was an awesome birthday gift Isaac got.

We later assembled and painted it.

ARIZONA

This is going to be a short worded, picture-filled post.

Being gone for two weeks is blissfull, but catching up is horrible!

I don't think I even sleep at night. I keep one eye open, ready for the

insane day the next day!

So. Hyper speed post....

Isaac and his cousin Charlotte had a double birthday party.

Hence the 4 and the 6!

The Pinata!

GRANDMA!

Leslie the day 3 days before Samual was born!

Nathan!

Nathan's mom and dad, Cara and Alan.

I don't know?

Callie and Easton

Watching movies on Matt's bed.

The Handsome Prince and the Beautiful Princess dancing!

Dips and spins and bowing and all!

Swimming!

I left out the most important part of the trip. The Temple. We went to the open house of the new Gila Valley temple and words can't describe the feeling there and the way the people have sacrificed and truly made it their own. They are completely focused on it and it's wonderful.

My sisiter Leslie and her husband and little girl were sealed in the Mesa temple also. And again words fail me. She belonged there with us and I LOVE her.

I got to see a lot of my Aunts, Uncles and cousins as well and that was wonderful!

John and I got to go on a get away for 3 days! HEAVEN!

I love him. I love him. I love him.

Get the picture?

I know two things......

1. FAMILY IS EVERYTHING.

2. I want to go home worthily to my Father in Heaven.

(Just not now please.)

The things they say.....

Yesterday Easton's little friend Brittany was over playing.

They were just chatting while they played,

and Brittany all of a sudden had a realization

that she needed to share with Easton.

She said very excitedly, " Easton, my Grandma has

a dog like Sophy!

His name is Chewy and he's a boy! They can get married!.....

They can get married in the doggy temple!"

To which Easton replied " That would be so silly!"

Then today Isaac was very upset about something. No,

he was ANGRY! He kept telling me how mad he was and he was

hitting the bed and growling.

I tried to point out to him that the reason he was so unhappy,

was because he was being selfish and letting Satan take

over his thoughts.

I asked him to let me know when he was ready to pray

and ask Heavenly Father to take the feeling away

and replace it with love.

So after a few minutes he decided he was ready and we prayed.

He comletely calmed down and was ready to come out of his room.

That night during his personal prayeres he said,

" Thank You for taking the (mom, what's that word?) selfish out of me."

Such a good boy. Truly!

Easter Friends!

We had so much fun with all our wonderful friends!

I love holidays because it's another excuse to get together with friends and do fun stuff!

Easter Egg Hunt and Decorating!

Isaac with our new friend Taylor

Easton with Eden and Justin!

Easton with Beckham (Taylor's brother.)

Egg Rolling!

My friend Melinda has a tradtion to roll or race the eggs

down a hill. It was a riot! Except it made a big mess!

Because we used hard boiled eggs.

Flowers with the Gutke's!



Saint Patrick's Hats!

Hope you all had as much fun as we did!

I love the feeling of Easter. I really do think about the Savior more and am so full of gratitude for him and all he has and does do for me and my loved ones!

True. Fulfillment.

(WARNING: Long, wordy post. Hey I don't do it that often.)

Am I the luckiest lady or what?

I have so many thoughts jumbled in my little brain.

I hope I can express them.

I have had several "moments" lately that have caused my heart to swell.

First of all...... I love track break! I love having my Isaac home!

I seriously LOVE being a mommy.

Every morning we find ourselves all in my bed.

We just lay there snuggling and laughing until were ready to start the day.

Every day I think, "I get another day with these amazing little creatures?"

Don't get me wrong. I have lots of moments where I feel frustrated and a little annoyed.

But I truly feel that my Father in Heaven is blessing me beyond my own capabilities.

He is allowing me to hold on to every minute and not want to rush ahead to when it is easier,

or when everything is better or perfect.

I get this little giddy feeling when my boys are playing super heroes or digging in the dirt,

or drawing together, or wrestling and giggling.

I feel this simple, sweet peace and am constantly reassured that THIS is what I was born to do.

THIS is true joy. And I don't want to miss any of it wishing for something else.

Two of my most fulfilling moments are what would seem menial chores.

The first is Mondays: Laundry Day.

It took me a while to realize why I felt so happy at the end of this day.

When I have spent the whole day (in between the other responsibilities)

doing 6 loads of laundry,

starting from all of it unsorted, to putting every single peace away.... folded neatly....

( This is a run on sentence.)

I feel this simple fulfillment, "I did all that in one day and my house is clean and in order,

and my family have clean clothes to wear."

Silly, I know.

Another menial chore is grinding my own wheat,( I recently got a Nutri Mill Grinder) and then making something

hearty and healthy right out of that freshly ground wheat!

I get excited just thinking about it! I know I am such a nerd!

John thinks I am crazy!

I can not describe the joy I feel when I fill my families bellies with pure nutrients.

Even sillier, I know.

But.... I am ever grateful for this ride called life!

And I want to enjoy every bump and curve along the way!

Oh if only I was this smart.......

Easton:

The other day I was really sad and I kept crying alot. Isaac asked me why I would cry and then stop and then cry again. And I told him that I was trying not to cry. So then a few minutes later I was crying again and Easton said very seriously, "Mom, try not to cry. You need to be strong."

So sweet and cute!

Isaac:

Yesterday we were riding in the car with our cousin Ethan Bauerle. Isaac and Ethan were just chatting it up like little adults. Ethan was saying that as soon as school is over he is moving to Alabama. Isaac said, " Ohhhh, I am going to miss you." And then Ethan said, " I am going to miss you too."

Then Isaac said very enthusiastically, " Don't you worry though, you are going to make new friends...... It will be hard...... (then, more to himself)I don't remember making new friends."

To which Ethan said, " I don't know how to make new friends."

And then Isaac answered, " It's easy, you just walk up and say " ' Hi, I am Isaac. Will you be my friend?' "

It was so cute. How simple and true. I wish we could do that as adults. Wouldn't it be so much easier then the himming and hawing around?

I can't believe how big these boys are getting. I feel like I am hanging out with friends all day, not little boys. They are so grown up!

San Diego...... Sea World

and other fun!

John got free tickets to Sea World through the Army so we went for his Spring Break.

John's sister Amy and her family came with us.

We had a blast!

Our first stop.... the San Diego Temple!

Breath taking!

In the car, in the hotel and at Sea World!

The boys almost had as much fun at the h0tel as anything else.

They stayed in their own room in the suite we had and they thought they were big stuff.

They kept the french doors shut most of the time.

And they loved the pool! Kids love to swim!

Jared on John's shoulder's. (Taken from our hotel room.)

Isaac and John on the left and Jared and Ethan on the right.

Seal Beach

Do people really get to live here?

Ethan and Isaac

The boys were collecting sea shells. It was freezing, thus the jackets. This picture was taken just seconds away from the tide coming in and drenching the boys in ice cold water. Easton was taken out to sea a little ways and John had to sacrifice his flip flops to the ocean to save him.

I was watching from above the beach and after the scary moment passed it was quite funny.

The boys were screaming and crying saying " We hate the ocean! We hate this day!"

They were so cold. But what an adventure to tell some day!

Thanks Bauerle's for the fun day and crazy nights! The games and laughs were the best!

We love you guys!

There is nothing like family vacation!