Fine and Dandy

I haven't been very good at journaling lately and I think it's because life feels somewhat normal. And simple. I haven't felt the emotional need to continually search for solid ground beneath my feet that felt like it was constantly crumbling. It's been crazy busy with the new house and Easter and bridal showers and baby showers and weddings and work and church responsibilities and photo shoots...but it feels normal. Like I'm a little bit in control of my life and the choices I make. Which feels so good! The dark cloud that's been looming over my heart seems to be brightening. I'm so grateful to be just fine and dandy!

Here's just some happy randoms...

Trulie lost her first tooth. Then 6 days later lost her 2nd. She is the first of our kids to say, " Daddy will you pull my tooth out?" The others we have to bribe and beg through lots of tears to let us pull it. The dentist says getting it out the sooner the better. It gives the tooth coming in a better chance at coming in straight instead of having to find a way around the loose tooth. It was bugging her so she wanted them out. I tried and tugged as hard as I felt like I could without hurting her and couldn't get it. My heart couldn't do it to her. So we waited for Dad to get home and he pulled it right out. And she didn't even cry a bit. Then a week later she asked Dad to pull out the 2nd one. Now she has 3 more slightly loose teeth. Wiggling her teeth is her new habit. She's always switching from one habit to the next. She is so excited to lose what she calls her "brown tooth" in front. When she was about 2 years old she climbed into Jarvis' baby swing and was way too big for it. She reached to the side and pulled herself towards the pole and it tipped over and she bumped her tooth on the pole. And it's been slightly gray ever since.   

Jarvis loves to crawl into my bed with me when Dad's not home. He says he's scared every single night when I tuck him in. He always says he wants someone to sleep in his bed with him. I have to remind him how he has 6 kids sleeping right next to him in the same room! So this is how I have found him the last few nights. The huge Care Bears help him feel safe :) So silly but I love it.

Branson and Shyann received more awards at school. Branson always stands up there with a grin on his face and looks for me in the crowd and always looks nervous but so happy to see his proud Mom there. He is the only one who still turns around to flash me the I love you sign language every day when I drop him off at school. Such a sweet boy. Shyann was super nervous and when she found me in the crowd I told her to smile and this is the face I got. Ever since she was about 1 years old she has made this face with a "Hmph" grumpy sound. I'm pretty sure it's not going to be so cute when she's 16 :) So proud of both of them! 

Shyanns teacher asked me to scrapbook the 2nd grade yearbook pages. It was so much fun! Apparently I was supposed to just glue the pictures on with some stickers or something simple. Tyler kept asking me if her teacher knew what she was getting herself into by asking me. She kept saying she would reimburse me...hmmm...I don't think she knows my Scrapbooks Etc. addiction. I can't walk out of there without spending atleast a hundred dollars! Haha! But now they have them hung up in the front of the school for everyone to see! Her teacher loved them and my other kids teachers were jealous :) They said I will definitely be asked to help with the yearbook next year...too bad we're moving :(

We came across this picture recently and it makes me smile. The ward I grew up in had 5 sets of twins! And that was before fertility treatments was so readily available. The joke was always "there must be something in the water." I need to find some of that water! I would LOVE to have twins! Sherry and I are the ones on the bottom far right. I think I'm the one in pink :)  

My nephew Reed never fails to make you smile! He put on his sisters glasses and the kids all thought he looked so cute so they asked me to take a picture and this is what I got :) He has such a silly personality!

The kids found a baby bird in our back yard. It was so sad to see the poor thing alone but it was so cute! I love seeing all the bird nests everywhere right now! 

I love the warm weather. I love wearing flip flops with my hot pink pedicure. I love that school is almost out. I love having late nights with my best friend twin sister. I love that our house is done being painted and close to being ready. I love eating bagels with strawberry cream cheese for breakfast. I love how my husband texts me sweet messages all day every day. I love how we still use a hand made quilt Tylers sister Camany made for us for our wedding gift almost 11 years ago as our comforter. I love playing at the park with my amazing kids. I love looking forward to my scripture study when I crawl into bed. I love every night when Shyann won't let me go when I say goodnight with her arms locked tight around my neck. I love my new striped shirt that has all my favorite colors: yellow, teal, gray, pink & white. I love how every single time Jarvis walks in my room he looks in my desk drawer for chocolate. I love my girl friends for making me laugh til my cheeks hurt. I love loving the small stuff that we have been so blessed with that brings so much happiness!