You think of everything

Jonah came home when I was mowing the lawn and asked me why I didn't have him do it.  I said, I wanted to get it done today because it was windy and then all the grass on the sidewalk would just blow away.  He said, "you think of everything."  It made me feel good because I do put a lot of thought into everything I do.  I'm always thinking through schedules and how to be the most efficient, it felt nice to have it recognized. 

Jonah finally got his championship shirt for J-Jazz. 

Wyatt usually leaves his Cello at school so I was happy to see him bring it home to practice.  He doesn't love orchestra, so I don't think he will play again next year.  The hardest part is that it starts at 7 AM.

Ian invited Jonah to the Jazz game again last Saturday.  It was a playoff game, so it was even more exciting.  He had fun with Milo, Ian and Wyatt.  

It was fun to see Jonah on the TV while we were watching the game.  The boys were sitting behind the bench.  

He came home so excited, it was such a good game and the Jazz pulled off the win. Unfortunately, they lost last night, so their season is over now. I'm so glad Jonah got to go to so many games this season and so grateful for the Bastian's for taking him.  

Last Saturday Dallin brought his golf clubs over and they had fun making a little miniature golf course in our yard. 

Hallee had Tessa over on Saturday.  She loves playing with Tessa so much.  They both love to play pretend and they have so much fun together.

Dallin left the golf clubs here so Wyatt could keep using them.  He loved having us play with him on Sunday. 

On Sunday we took the clubs over to Lakeview to play golf.

Keith and Wyatt gave Hallee some tips on her swing.

Wyatt put a water bottle across the field and we saw how many hits it took us to hit it.

While Tessa was here they pulled out Hallee's bike and Hallee decided she wanted to practice riding it again.  She had it down pretty good a while ago, but she got frustrated and didn't want to do it anymore.  She got frustrated again, but she stuck with it. It was sweet to see Wyatt helping her.

It didn't take her too long to pick it back up.  I'm so glad she pushed through the frustration and stuck with it. 

She was so proud of herself.  She rode her bike over to Lakeview when we went to play golf.  She played golf with us for a little while and then she rode her bike around the path while we played.  She has been riding her bike to school every day and loves to ride it after school too.

She has picked up quite a few bruises from riding that bike, but that hasn't stopped her.

Keith and Jonah have been going to the gym before work and school every morning.  Keith was excited for the opportunity to spend some time with Jonah.  He is such a good dad, he is always looking for ways to connect with the kids.  Jonah has been lifting weights every morning.  He thought he was ready to beat Keith in an arm wrestle this week.  He was close, but Keith pulled off the win.  I love that his goal is to beat his dad to prove how strong he is.

The temple looked so pretty with the flowers and spring blossoms surrounding it.

When Caitlyn first started working at Chick-Fil-A she thought it was fun to drive the food out to the drive thru in the golf cart.  She does not like that part anymore.  Especially, when people order tons of drinks and soup.  Her friend snapped this picture of her taking all of these drinks and soups out to the golf cart.

Hallee wasn't feeling good yesterday morning so she stayed home from school.  I was disappointed because I was supposed to go to Katie's with Tiff, but Hal and I had a fun day. We both got a nap and then we went to sonic for drinks and came home and watched a movie together.  

Today the kids didn't have school so Keith decided to take the day off.  We went over to the gym and played racquetball and pickleball with Hallee and Wyatt. 

I was glad Wyatt wanted to play racquetball.  I love racquetball and realized today how much I miss playing it.  After we finished playing pickleball we went to the library and got books for all of us.  

I love seeing all the things Hallee does with her stuffed animals.  She brought them out to watch a show with her.  One of the perks of being the youngest grandkid is, you get lots of things passed down to you.  I think two of these are from Amarie and one is from Caitlyn.

Keith's company did a bowling night last week. He was in charge of it so it was a little stressful for him, but he still enjoyed it.  He took Wyatt with him.  Wyatt loved bowling and the unlimited soda!

Tonight Keith is took Hal and Wyatt to the see Bad Guys.  I'm excited for a little alone time at home to get some things done and hopefully have some time to read. 

Good Old Days

Yesterday I was going through old pictures and I was not prepared for all of the emotion these pictures would bring up.  Most of these pictures seem like a lifetime ago.  I wish I could go back in time and relive things.  I miss my babies and it's hard to even remember that time.  Thank goodness I have pictures like this one of me and Jonah to take me back.  Everyone always tells you to enjoy every moment because the time goes by so fast.  I always stress and wonder if I did enjoy the moments because I remember all the hard things about that stage of life.  I'm so grateful for pictures that show me enjoying the moments!

There were pictures and memories that I had completely forgotten.  Keith and I went with my parents to California before we had kids and once when Caitlyn and Jonah were young.  I have been missing grandma a lot lately.  I'm so glad I was able to visit her so much and that Keith supported me going out to visit her.  I wish I could talk to her right now. 

I loved coming across this picture.  It made me so grateful that I met and married Keith.  He fit right in our family and loved being an uncle and the nieces and nephews love him.

And then I see pictures of Jen and my heart jumps and breaks a little.  Oh man I miss her! I was so happy to see so many smiling pictures of her because sometimes I forget that there were a lot of happy times with her.  The hard times were so hard and sometimes that makes you forget all of the happy times. 

And there were a lot of happy times.  Jen and I loved getting our kids together and doing fun activities with them. 

I wish I could go back to those days with my knowledge from today.

It was hard to see pictures of Kip.  Every time I think of him I think about what might have been, could we have done more.  Suicide is such a complicated thing to process.  It breaks my heart that Keith lost his brother that way.  I wish Keith had Kip here now.  Keith and Kip were so close and it's a big hole for Keith not to have him to talk to and hang out with. I love and miss him too.

Now these really were the good old days.  I'm so glad Chris moved to Utah for college.  We had so much fun together.  He made my young adult years a blast.  I try not to have regret, but I sure wish I would have went out to visit him and talked to him more often.  

It's a little hard to look back at pictures and think how happy and carefree we were before Jen died.  I'm not sure how much of it was just being younger, but things really did change when she died.  Becoming a mom changes you and I can only imagine how losing a child changes you.  I'm so grateful to have a mom who loves being a mom and a grandma.  I remember feeling so overwhelmed and clueless when Caitlyn was born.  Mom was always there to show me the ropes and answer my questions. 

I was so emotional after looking at all of the pictures yesterday, so when Caitlyn wanted to go in and say good night to Hallee when she came home yesterday before heading off to Prom I thought my heart might burst. Caitlyn is the best big sister and Hallee adores her.

I was able to just soak in that moment knowing it was something that would become "the good old days."

Today when Wyatt wanted to play golf over at Lakeview, I knew I wanted to say yes.  I knew that I was experiencing what would soon be the good old days.  

And I thought it was a little crazy that Keith wanted to make smores with the kids over the barbecue, but then today I realized that I'm so grateful for Keith and our differences.  I'm so grateful that we have different strengths and weaknesses and that our kids have both of us and that we are able to give them such a beautiful life.  Looking through all of the pictures gave me so much gratitude for all of the wonderful things we have been able to do and experience over the years.  We aren't perfect parents, but we love our kids and we have worked so hard to give them love, safety and fun.  I'm amazed to look back and see all of the trips we were able to take and fun activities we could do with the kids. Money has always felt tight, but looking back we have been so blessed and haven't gone without anything, including amazing vacations and experiences.

Anyway, all of this reminiscing has just made me so grateful for the beautiful life that I have.  I have been blessed with amazing family and friends and a lifetime of experiences that I never want to forget.

Easter 2022

Hallee really wanted everyone to dye eggs together so we picked a night that Caitlyn didn't work and did it.  Hallee was happy that Jonah joined us too.  I love dinner time.  I love being all together and listening to the kids talk, they say some crazy things.  We usually do our scripture reading right after dinner, so we have a nice little chunk of time together in the evening.  Caitlyn is at work a lot, but the rest of us are usually home.  We love the nights that Caitlyn is home!

Hallee told us that she doesn't believe in the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus anymore.  She said she hasn't for a while, but she thought I wanted her to, so she didn't say anything.  It makes my life so much easier.  We did our Easter baskets on Saturday morning before Caitlyn went to work.  

I think everyone was happy with what they got.

Some years they get more than others.  This year they each got one or two nice things instead of candy. They all got a little bit of candy, but not much.

Hallee was thrilled with her new sunglasses and hair chalk.

Caitlyn got a new jewelry box/stand.  She was excited she has a lot of ear rings and necklaces and loves to have things organized. 

Wyatt got knew outdoor balls for a game they like to play on the trampoline. 

I miss the days of new Easter clothes and Easter pictures.  Caitlyn got a new dress recently and Hallee wore one she got a couple of years ago.

I'm glad my girls like to take pictures.

It was quite an accomplishment to have time for a couple of quick pictures before church.  9 AM church is so hard!

The kids humored me and let me take a picture of them.  

After church we snapped a few family selfies. 

These pictures make me happy.  I love us!

We had a great church service focused on Jesus Christ.  We came home and had a nice family home evening talking about Christ.  Jonah read us a story that he had heard in Sunday School that was so good.  Earlier in the week he shared a lesson with us from seminary.  He had us all look up a name that Christ is referred to in the scriptures and share our scriptures.  It was really good. I love when the kids want to share their faith and testimony with us.  It was really nice to hear that from Jonah because the Sunday before when I woke him up for church he said, "I don't even believe in our church."  Ha, I'm telling you 9 AM church is rough!  Luckily, I think he was joking, but I think he would have happily stayed home from church and slept too.  

We went to my parents for an Easter Egg hunt and dinner that night.  It was a really nice night! We enjoyed visiting while the kids enjoyed time with their cousins.  I love celebrating Easter and focusing on the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of Him I have hope, because of Him I have faith that darkness will always give way to light, because of Him I believe my family can be together forever.  I'm so grateful to know that I have a Savior who loves and understands me and has provided a way for me to return to my Heavenly Parents.