Snookerdoodle's 3rd birthday

Senorita Snoot turned the big three years old last month.  Oh man, how we love this little fire cracker! She fills our days with funny sayings, crazy cute faces, and general silliness.  She is a little sweetheart and she has such a fun personality.  She keeps us in stitches and she does everything with her little Snooker flair. We are blessed to have this little light in our home.

She loves:

Anything from the movie Frozen

kitties

being a "mini bull" while dad does bucking bulls

singing

dance parties

rainbow bracelets

dress ups

purple anything

 shoes

did I mention she loves kitties?

 Aunt Tone Tone made her this amazing Elsa cake for her birthday.  Oh man how she loved it!  It was so cute it hurt a little to cut into it.

May according to Instagram

April according to Instagram

March according to Instagram

Easter 2014

 Easter is one of my favorite days to celebrate.  The spirit seemed to be tangible as we remembered all that happened leading up to Sunday.  My favorite night was when we all sat on the living room floor for dinner and spread out various pictures of Jesus.  We talked about His childhood, His baptism, ministry and miracles.  We talked about the last supper and the sacrament as we ate roasted chicken, flat bread, dried fruit and cheese.  It reminded me of our Christmas tradition, but it had such a different feel.  It really made my heart try to understand what it might have felt like to be there with Jesus.  To try and understand what was about to happen.  To know that our Savior would suffer so very much in the next moments.  To know He would feel such unimaginable anguish for the sins of the world, to be turned on, hated, and raised up on a cross.

And then Sunday comes.

There is something so glorious about Easter Sunday!  The hope and joy at the breaking of the bands of death. I love it.  I love my Savior for all He has done for me.  I am grateful for the plan of salvation and a loving Father in Heaven who sent His only begotten son to die for us. He loves us so very much.  I am grateful for my Father.  I know I don't see it all, I know that there are times I don't recognize His hand in my life specifically, but I know He is there. When I don't know where to go He creates a path, when I kneel in prayer and pour out my heart He hears me.  And when I don't understand my circumstances He sends me a different perspective. He teaches me everyday by my mortal experience, for which I am so grateful. He refines me. He lifts me. He loves me.  He sends Jer and I ladies like these to light up our lives.

Spring Soccer and Family Words

Macy is playing spring soccer this year and it makes me so happy.  She is a runner.  I remember when we visited the BRHS track during the summer one year and Macy, without hesitation, started running the track.  I ran two full laps with her and she never once stopped.  She just kept running.  I was amazed at her stamina and the big fat smile on her face.

When my friend informed me it was sign up time for our city I knew she would love it.  She was a little apprehensive, but she jumped right in.  I remember writing about Claire's first dance recital.  I feel the same mother pride swell in my heart as I watch The Mooster take the field each week!  This might sound silly but my heart smiles when I see her kick the ball, or jump for joy when she makes a goal, or watch her face beam as she is running from one side of the field to the other.  That is what motherhood does to you.  Such small things bring a crazy amount of joy.  It evokes such potent emotion when you see your kids try something new, break down barriers, and use their bodies and talents to bring true happiness in their lives.  I especially love that she gets to see her whole family on the sidelines cheering her on. Even in the pouring rain, we will be there. It is important to me to build a culture of team work in our home.  Not only to work together well, but to really make a team out of our family. We cheer for each other, we find happiness in each others success, and we rally around each other in times of need.  That is a family.

First game of the season

Jer and I have been working on our family motto by choosing 6 words to build some defining foundations of our home. (inspiration here)  It has been really fun and has produced so many great conversations as we ponder what is important to us, what we felt shaped by in our own family, and what we dream and hope for our own family.  One of our words is CHEER.  It's purpose is two fold;

First we want to teach our children to have an attitude of cheer with D&C 123:17 as a guide: 

Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all 
things tha lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the 
utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

Second we want to cheer for each other. We are TEAM YOUNG.  We stick together.  We work hard together.  We assist each other.  We cry together. We play together.  We recognize each others strengths and love each other through our weaknesses.  And when it is our turn to sit on the sidelines we cheer our faces off for our team.  When they win we cheer.  When they don't, we huddle together with our arms around each other.  I am so grateful for this little team of mine. I am pretty excited to be their coach.

 They are a pretty adorable

Birthday hoopla

This five year old had a wonderful day! We had lunch at Mcdonalds with friends, went to swimming lessons, ate her favorite dinner (broccoli soup), but the best part was a Frozen party with snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, the birthday chair, and celebrating with our fun family.

 The birthday chair!!

Oh my, how this girl loves Frozen!

Annnnnd, turns out I haven't made snowflakes in a long time and had to Google how to fold them. A sample of them must be pictured because they took me forever!