Welcome to our World

What a surprise to have two and a half inches of snow 2 days before the last day of school for most of my children. Things like Field Day and D’s baseball practice and game were canceled and I worried about the campsite we had rented in the mountains for Memorial Day weekend. But as I was telling another mom at school today, I am not worried about middle school or 1st grade, as of this month! If you had asked me in April I still would have been very concerned about those huge transitions for my oldest and youngest girls but after meeting with K’s middle school counselor and attending the rookie parent night I am so excited for K. I think she will really like it there and will do great! And N seemed to decide while Hubby and I were out of town that she could and wanted to be more independent. She’s got some of that 6 year old sass starting to show too so I feel like she is going to be just fine in 1st grade. D is happy to continue at the public school for 5th grade and I think he’ll ha...

Months ago when the weather was below freezing Hubby and I planned a trip for just the two of us that would be warm but not too far away, cheap, and a place we wouldn’t want to take our children with us. New Orleans was perfect. We made sure to be gone during the week so the children would be in school and I planned lots of play dates and rides to make it easier on my parents. Just writing down all my notes took hours. The planning was totally worth it and I was especially glad to be in 80 degree weather when it was snowing back home. Our hotel, Le Richelieu, is farther out in the French Quarter so nice and quiet but still close enough to walk where ever we wanted to go. (Don’t eat there, though.) On Monday we awed at the architecture of the French Quarter before we were picked up to visit Oak Alley and Laura Plantation with Louisiana Tour Company. The trees were magnificent but we found Laura’s tour much more engaging and would highly recommend it. These River Road plantations are...

Our beloved, beautiful dog passed away on April 30, 2019.  As newlyweds we poured our time and money into training the sweet, smart dog we spoiled from day one.  Meigo was so happy when we were home and so sad when we were away.  She was the one waiting for us when we came home from urgent care after our first miscarriage.  She accepted and loved all those babies we kept bringing home for 5 years.  I know she would have done anything in her power to protect them.  I am still amazed at how when she heard K and M screaming when the neighbor's dog attacked our pet rabbit she sprang into action even though she was so old she slept most of the day.  She knew all the basic commands a dog needs to know but we loved the silly things like her being able to give us a high 5.  Meigo would do about anything for a bit of string cheese.  I remember the first time she went swimming I was scared about how far she was going and made Hubby go out and follow h...

Although it was kind of sad to be back home from our vacation, we were blessed by a few good days of nice weather and being able to listen to General Conference to get April started off right.  I was able to listen to all of President Nelson's GC talks since becoming an apostle before Conference weekend and was so happy I did.  I felt like I was better prepared for what the prophet had to say.  I absolutely loved Elder Holland's talk and Sister Craven's talk and they have definitely inspired me to do better and be better.  For the first time in years by children actually let me listen to four full sessions of conference too.  So strange to actually be caught up at 4pm on Sunday afternoon.  I am grateful for a feeling like that but it is also a reminder that someday my children will be all grown up.  They are growing up too fast! Our littlest girl turned 6 years old this month!  I am so proud of who she is and all that she can do but once in a ...

The morning after Meigo’s doggy birthday party we flew to San Diego for Spring Break. The airport and flight were a breeze — I like leaving the house at the normal time for school to catch a plane. The hotel shuttle was super easy and thumbs up for our Wyndham San Diego Bayside hotel and its super convenient location. The first thing the children wanted to do was go swimming at the pool even though it was only 65°. If there are palm trees, they will swim! Hazelwood Deli on the Bay did not disappoint for a lunch/after school snack. We peddled ourselves around in a surrey and the children got henna tattoos before playing at a fantastic park right across the street from our hotel. Hubby took K and D to swim again while I got M and N bedtime snacks and ready for bed. They were so excited for the next day but still managed to be asleep right before the swimming group came back.  In the morning we ate at Hazelwood’s, played at Waterfront Park and rode around in a surrey again befo...