Road Trip to Kansas City

A couple of weeks ago, we were able to escape from our crazy life to head down to Kansas City.  Our main reason for going was to see this:

Ever since this temple was announced, we knew that we would want to get to the open house if at all possible.  Our girls have been wanting to go inside of a temple for so long...and the opportunity for attending an open house is rare.  As the dates drew closer, we didn't know if it was going to happen...but luckily the open house was extended for one week and everything fell into place. We checked everyone out of school and headed down to KC.We stayed here:  

And of course the kids LOVED this:

 What is it about kids and hotel pools?  All they wanted to do was swim.  I remember being the exact same way as a kid with my sisters.  They also thought ordering pizza and having it delivered to our room was pretty neat.

The next morning (after swimming of course!) we headed to downtown Kansas City to visit the Crowne Center Mall.  It was really neat and we got to see lots of cool displays, stores (Crayola!) and restaurants.  Our kids are always so wide-eyed in bigger cities...because yes, we live in Smalltown, USA...and we love it!  But it is good to get out every once in a while.

 We ate lunch at "Fritz's" which is this fun train themed restaurant where your order arrives by an overhead electric train.  Cole was beside himself as he loves trains!

Then it was on to the temple...and it was every bit the experience I hoped it would be. The temple was stunning and beautiful, and the spirit was strong.  I so enjoyed the opportunity to spend time as a family and be there together!

 We also stopped at Liberty Jail which was a great site to visit.  I had been there several times before and wanted the kids to see it, too.

We arrived home late and happy and tired out.  Tod and I both commented that road trips are a lot of work!  How come our parents never told us that???  But it was well worth the effort to be able to have this opportunity and to make some fun memories!

Thoughts on Mother's Day

The past few weeks have been so busy, and there have been so many things that I have wanted to post about.  But today I have "mothers" on my mind.  For the first time in years, we were able to have an actual posed picture of me with the kids since Tod didn't have to be at church early!  I love being a mom so much.  Of course, some days are hard...but it is truly wonderful...early this morning Jordan handed me a card she had made at school and added to at home.  She listed things that she was grateful I had given her including "birth, siblings, shelter, money to play sports, gifts and love, love, love!"  Ashton gave me a card stating that "even when she is mad at me, she still loves me."  Regan had already given me her gift (a key chain with her picture) because she was just so excited when she made it at school.  And Cole was proud as could be to give me the gift he had from nursery.  Handmade gifts are the best.  One of my dearest friends grabbed my hand at church and whispered, "Are you having a good Mother's Day?"  I quickly answered, "Yes, simply because I am a mother!"  We agreed that Mother's Day isn't about expectations or gifts...for me, it is enough simply to be a mother.  (Of course, I appreciated the extra help at dinner, kind words from my hubby at church today, and Old Navy gift card!).  Sometimes, being a good mom takes everything I have...and I still have a long way to go...but lately, time seems to be going by so fast and I feel an increased urgency to try even harder to be better.  I am trying to eliminate distractions because I know that this season of my life is short and in a blink, my kids will be grown!

When we came from church, I said to Tod that if I could have only one wish for today it would be that I could know that I am going to live long enough to see my own children have children and experience that with them.  A few good friends have had babies lately or are just about to deliver and their moms are in town...I miss my mom every day...but especially today.  How I wish she were here so that I could call her and thank her for everything....I wish she could be here to experience her grandchildren and know them...I also have lots of questions I would like to ask...things that I am only now thinking about as my girls are growing up, and I am feeling less confident in my "mothering" skills....I certainly look forward to seeing her again.

I am also thinking about all the women in my life who have influenced me...to many to name really...a mother in law, step mom, sisters, sister in laws, grandmothers, aunts, cousins, and friends.  I could write about each of them and the things they have taught me...maybe someday.  For now, Happy Mother's Day to all!

Easter Fun

I love Easter...it is such a wonderful time of year with spring coming, and I have so many happy memories of my Easters as a child spent in Helper with Grandma Betty and our family. This year I found myself especially nostalgic remembering the Helper Egg Hunt...complete with it's heart pumping anticipation and "prize eggs", along with the rare privilege of riding in the back of Uncle Kirk's truck. I thought of our picnics on the desert...hours spent exploring, visiting and rolling the eggs down hills. Of course, I pictured the Easter feast at Grandma's table where the evening before we would have gathered round to dye the Easter eggs. Such fond, happy times....I can only hope that I am creating some of those same memories for my kiddos...as well as an understanding of the true meaning.




We always have fun coloring Easter eggs...and Easter hunts and Easter baskets are a tradition...this year, Ashton and Regan were up early to check out the goods while Cole and Jordan wandered down a little bit later. I like to take pictures of the baskets to remember what was popular for the year...this time it was Squinkies for everyone and cross stitch for the girls.





Grandma Cindy whipped up some skirts for the ladies, and I love how bright and sunny they looked. It's hard to get a good photo of this group...especially of a certain little boy.


We enjoyed Easter dinner with many of our wonderful friends...it was great to be together. To share a favorite Helper childhood phrase..."Happy Easter Egg!!!!"

Spring Break

As soon as I saw on the school calendar that spring break was 2 weeks long, I knew exactly where we were headed!!! A place for endless fun and entertainment...plus great company and low rates...a trip to the farm was just the thing!!! And the weather could not have been more spectacular. We were literally outside for 6 straight days and enjoyed every minute of it.

We headed down on Monday morning...it was just the kids and me since Tod sadly had to work. They were really good on the drive, and we arrived by late afternoon ready for a week on fun.

And it was indeed, a week of fun...the weather was so warm...in fact, I really should have packed shorts and t-shirts...instead, we cut off the pants we brought, because some days it felt like the middle of summer.

Some of the things we enjoyed most-

Riding the 4 wheeler...since all the kids wanted rides all day long and Tod wasn't with us, I had to step up and be the driver. And I did just fine...except when I took Jordan out to the very back field and we ran out of gas and had to hike all the way back wearing flip flops...and how on the last day we discovered that the brakes had gone out probably from over use...but other than that, I did just great!


Horses!! The older girls are getting to where they need to learn how to take care of the horses and saddle them for riding. Grandpa is a great teacher.



Ashton was able to ride without a rope in the round corral. She is becoming a natural.
Jordan is getting more confident, too.
Regan and Cole are still just along for the ride.







The swing in the barn is always fun!


On Wednesday, our former neighbors came up to visit us. It was so good to see them, as we miss them SO much. We had a picnic by the pond and just enjoyed hanging out together again!

On Thursday, we headed to the city to see the new bike bridge that was just built. It was really neat as you can now walk up and see out across the river. I have to put in a word here about cousins...my kids LOVE Kayla and Leah. And they are always so good about hanging out with us when we come down...I get to enjoy seeing Megan (and Jerimy too!), and the kids just play endlessly together. It is such a gift.








Cole man was totally exhausted when we got back...I don't know why since I carried him most of the way. But he loved his nap in the hammock with Grandma.

Grandpa needed some help on Friday hauling wood and everyone got right to work. All week the girls had been working on earning extra money for some things they want to buy. Grandpa was a good sport and gave them a list of chores and what each was worth. It was quite impressive to see how hard they were working...like little worker bees...I wish they would work that hard for me...maybe it's because Grandpa pays better!


On our last night there, we went fishing at the pond. This was a new experience for the kids, and it required patience and stillness...hard to come by, but so much fun! It was a beautiful evening.






Some other things to remember- going to the pet store and being greeted by a huge box turtle walking around, ice cream sundaes at McDonald's, eating dinner outside, studying the stars in the sky, hanging laundry out to dry, endless Disney channel.

I know I say it a lot, but every time we go to the farm, I always feel so lucky to have such an amazing place to retreat to. It is a place where we can go to get away from everything and to spend time together with people we love. It is a place to be with grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles. Every day the kids came inside covered in dirt, filthy and exhausted from a day spent running around outside.

That is so hard to come by sometimes in our busy life, and to me, it seems priceless!