Read this book!

I finished this the other day.  I know, I'm a slow reader.  But in my defense, I really only read when I'm nursing Rory...that is when I'm not dosing, or desperately trying to convince Piper to stop climbing on something, or stop putting something in her mouth, or to not spill something...etc.  Let me tell ya, breastfeeding and parenting don't mix well.

Anyway, back to the book.  I loved it.  What an incredible story!  Every time I closed the book I just felt such an appreciation of where I am in my life.  Appreciation of being a mother...stay at home mother!  What a blessing that is!  I'm so lucky!  I get to be a mom of four wonderful little girls!  And to live in such an amazing area!  I get to open my front door every morning and look up at those same mountains she described in the book. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think how very fortunate I am to live where I do!  Maybe it's because I had to fight so hard to get this house, I'm not sure...but I am so thankful!

She talks about how every day is such a gift...it's so easy to forget that.  Slow down...enjoy the moment.  My kids will only be this age once!

Just the overall power of a family...truly amazing!

What do you know...

Ryan left for Denver this morning and just like clockwork, as soon as he left someone got sick.  My little Piper.  She woke up with a fever and 20 minutes later barfed all over the family room floor.  So for about 30 minutes after that it was complete chaos...Piper wrapped in a towel crying on the bathroom floor while I cleaned up the barf, Rory screaming in her bouncy seat, and Haley and Morgan running around yelling "Eeewww, it smells so bad!!!"  They both found clothespins (I have no idea where they found them) and had them on their noses.  And all the while Haley needed to get to school.  Thank goodness for my folks down the street!  My dad walked Haley to school.

Now my sweet little Piper is asleep on the sofa, curled up with her quilt.  All is calm...for now.

Despite the sickies now, we had a lovely weekend.  My in-laws were in town for a long weekend visit.  We went out dinner, picnicked at Bridal Veil Falls, watched the girls play on the playground, went to my nephew's birthday party, barbecued with my folks, and spent the day at the zoo.  Whew!  Unfortunately my camera has died, so I don't have a single photo.  Bummer.  I'm desperately saving my pennies to buy a new fancy schmancy one!  One day.

So that's the latest.  Now, I better get back to it!

Quickie

Just a quick update...two kids in school, and two napping at this very moment...and blogging just isn't what I want to be spending my two blissful, quiet hours doing.

* Rain, we've been getting tons of it. April Showers I guess.

* Colonoscopy. Blah! The prep wasn't as bad this time around...thank heavens. My new approach: take in as many liquid calories as possible. My diet consisted of Sprite, juices, more Sprite, Jello, and Popsicles. A dentist's nightmare! But it worked, I didn't pass out once that night. And what do you know...they didn't find a thing! This I know is good news...but, what about my mystery pain?!! I'm not crazy people!! So, I meet with the doc in a few weeks to go over it all. Whatever.

* I just started reading this.
She's fellow Provo resident, and pretty much everyone that lives out here knows who she is. Okay, pretty much everyone, everywhere knows who she is. But in any case I started reading yesterday. I like it, I like it very much. She found the balance (it seems so far) between sharing with people her practically perfect life without making you want to barf. She finds the joys in every little aspect of motherhood...and I like that. Sometimes I need someone to remind that what I'm doing (being a mother) is a very lucky role to have.

A few things from the week.

My little brother, Andrew, came for a visit this week! I had all my siblings here for Easter! To get everyone together at once is very rare, it only happens a couple of times a year, if that.

The girls with their little cousin Jett on Easter Sunday.

Tuesday, my folks, Andrew, Matt, Carrie, Jett and my family (minus Ryan who had to work) went to Camp Floyd for the afternoon. Enjoyed a picnic lunch, the museum, the Stagecoach Inn, and the old school house. Andrew bought the girls' a bonnet...what a great uncle!

Wednesday night we celebrated Piper's 2nd Birthday! My camera died so I don't have any photos of that evening...but we had a nice bbq with family and a couple of friends over. Piper even sang Happy Birthday with us! Except she says it, "Happy you you!" It was pretty cute!

Also this week Morgan was fixed up with her hard casts. Luckily, she only needs to have them for 3 weeks, not 6 thank goodness! Oh, and they're waterproof! Boy, am I thankful for that! Makes life a little easier.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my sweet Piper!

Today you are 2!!

Celebration to come!

Happy Easter!

The Easter Bunny came!!

After yesterday's post, here's some good news! My parents and my brother, Andrew, are in town for Easter! I'm super excited to celebrate with everyone! Plus, it's in the upper 70's today and absolutely beautiful!

It's easy to get down with all the challenges coming our way as of late...but, we must keep our head up and keep moving forward! It will get better!

Have a fabulous Easter!!

Sheesh...where do I begin?

So, I'll sum up what happened since I last posted.

* Ryan started feeling sick Wednesday night...feverish and pounding headache. This continued Thursday and Friday. I kid you not...he did not leave the bed all day on Thursday! You know he's got to be hurtin' when that happens!

* Haley's had a bit of a stomach ache since Friday morning. No barfies or anything...just lack of appetite and achy belly. This concerns me. But, she's still in good spirits and super excited about Easter.

* I still have much pain in my left side from the inflammation in my large intestine. Then, I started getting massive chest pains...seriously, I thought I was having a heart attack! I drove myself to the urgent center to get checked out. Long story short...everything came up good. Heart: good. Lungs: good. However, because my colon is inflamed, it's pushing against my diaphragm causing inflammation in areas of my chest/ribs. I'm a mess.

I'm getting a colonoscopy next week. Yippee. We all know how it went to the first time...well, it sucked. And what do you know...I'm breastfeeding again. Lovely. As hellish as the prep is for me, at least this time I know I won't actually die during it. Because honestly, I really thought I was going to. Death by Colonoscopy Prep...ugh.

* And last but not least, Morgan fell down the stairs today. She fractured both wrists...casts for six weeks! She's absolutely devastated.

Here's to a Happy Easter tomorrow.

Say a little prayer for us...we need all the help we can get.

The kids.

We had movie night last weekend and the girls chose Disney's Robin Hood. They've seen it about a gazillion times, but that didn't stop them. It's one of their favorites...they especially love the song "That Phony King of England". And Haley has become quite good at whistling the opening tune.

Anyway, the girls were outside for the longest time and I went out to check up on them. This is what I found.
I know it looks like a homeless camp, but they're actually playing Robin Hood. You know the scene with the clothesline...well, that's their clothesline. They rigged a dog leash across the irrigation ditch...pretty clever if you ask me.

Piper got into the white-out...and some black marker too.

I tried my best to get it off, but I failed. So, yeah...she still has white-out on her face...two days later.

And speaking of Piper...any time I'm in the kitchen doing anything, my little Piper is right there...ALWAYS. I don't have that much counter space, so cooking becomes quite a challenge!

And also this week...this little one turned four months old!

Is she going to be my blue eyed baby?!

Scenes around the house.

I'm no fan of the messes my kids create on a daily basis...who is? Bins of toys just dumped on the floor is never a pleasant sight.

But, what does give me joy while I'm picking up around the house are the toys that have been carefully propped to create a "scene" for some good ol' fashioned imaginative play. Usually, I find these carefully tucked away somewhere...most likely to escape a little Piper from disrupting them.

Kit, reading blissfully about herself.
Ruthie, chillin' in her "house".

Fairy houses...very common to see these outside. Haley spends a lot of time collecting moss from around the yard to use has carpet. That's a lot of work!

I can't even begin to tell you how many dinos Ryan has found while cleaning up the flower beds...and any other random toy.

When my kids are all grown up, I will miss these little "scenes".