Am I 33 or 34?

Oh, that's right I was 33 last year. With each year that passes it's easy to see the changes that occur in my children. They usually have grown an inch or more, doubled their vocabulary, advanced a grade and appreciate a slightly more refined sense of humor. It's not so easy to see my own progression. What have I accomplished in this year, how have I grown? I don't quite know-and that is a problem.

I have noticed how I have changed as a mother. I don't stress as much that's for sure. I don't feel guilty for having a lazy day.

I don't really care what anybody thinks. I can share my testimony easier because of this, I get taken advantage of less and have very restful nights (when baby allows). Yep, I'm good with that.

I have also learned I can put as much as I want on my plate as long as I remember to savor the main course first meaning my family, and the gospel; and if I need to save the sides and dessert for later or just nibble at them for a time, it's okay. In fact I can even freeze those leftovers for a day when I have room for them. This makes me feel peaceful.

I dropped ten pounds of my last prepregnancy weight-but I owe that one to labor and nursing. Maybe this year I will lose ten more pounds with hard work and diligence.

I have become a better visiting teacher, I visit at least half of my sisters every month. Maybe this year I will visit the other half on my list.

I have rediscovered cooking. I seem to go in stages with this. Some weeks I am a very enthusiastic cook and make great dinners. Other weeks...not so much. This year I have been cooking with lots more unfamiliar fruits and vegetables and bulk items which has propelled me over my grocery store rut. In fact I just finished blanching and peeling 20 lbs of tomatoes for soup, salsa and spaghetti sauce. I loved it! ?It almost had a therapeutic feel to it. Thank you bountiful baskets.

I did experience a new place... "The South" Georgia to be exact, and loved it.

So, thirty four...Not sure what lessons this year will bring. I hope to be a better version of myself by the end of it though; a better mother, a better wife, a better daughter, a better sister, a better friend. I loved 33. I hope 34 is just as full.

Eight is GREAT!

8 is Great!

Whoever made up the mantra 8 is great sure knew what they were talking about. Noah's life just went from fun to super duper fun.

He was baptized yesterday and I was afraid that because he was coming home from a cub camp that maybe everything would be rushed, he would be tired and the event may end up feeling uneventful. That wasn't the case at all. Noah came home very excited for his baptism, got cleaned up, put his suit on and was anxious to go with an impenetrable smile and tired eyes. The conversation in those moments before we arrived consisted of "Are we going to be late? Are we going to be late?" "No Noah, we are right on time." and whether or not he should plug his nose. We had very nice opening exercises, and when it came time for Noah's baptism he was confident and ready.

As I sat there watching he and Jared in the font I was filled with gratitude. The gospel of Jesus Christ has brought me so many blessings, so much happiness, so many opportunities. Watching my children grow up in the gospel, being prepared for baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost at such a young age is...well...nothiong short of absolutely wonderful. Noah has such a love for the scriptures, and an intuitive understanding of the gospel.

After he was baptized and he and Jared were changing Bradeigh became very entertaining, and I just sat there and watched her. At moments I thought I should get her, I shouldn't let her walk all over the room, dance in front of the baptismal font doors run from cousin to cousin, but I was just enjoying myself to much-and the time needed to be filled somehow-and I didn't want to be the one filling it, so I was happy to defer to my one year olds antics.

When Jared and Noah returned, Jared, Kelly and Grandpa Green confirmed Noah and he received the Gift of the Holy Ghost. He sat their grinning from ear to ear. He told me later he was trying not to smile so much but that just made him smile more. I told him it was just fine to smile-it was a great moment. I think he felt like in was irreverent to sit there grinning during the blessing. Jared conducted as a member of our wards bishopric and officially welcomed Noah in as the newest member of the Picture Rocks Ward. He offered remarks and bore his testimony of the gospel. Again my heart was so full. I just kept thinking-that wonderful man is my husband.

Afterwards Grandma Green gave Noah the traditional blanket representing the warmth and comfort of the Holy Ghost. It was soft and red and Noah loved it. We took some family pictures and headed home for dinner and visiting.

It was a wonderful day, and has been an amazing month for Noah. Eight is truly great!

Pictures!

It was frustrating to be in such a beautiful place and not have my nice camera and lenses-BUT for convenience sake it was great to have my powershot along for this trip, and honestly I'm really pleased with some of the shots I was able to get. I wish I had more time to take pictures in Savannah but that will have to wait for another time. I love my family so much-they tickle me from the depths of my being. I feel very fortunate to have such an amazing husband and children. I can't wait to soak them up all summer!

A Great Start to an Amazing Summer

Geogia was great! I love adventures and experiencing new things and this trip did not disappoint. The trick to this trip was to get by solely using the MARTA while in Atlanta. MARTA is the public transit system. I love taking the train. The buses were fine-but I'm a slightly impatient person and would rather walk than wait for a bus-most times we coordinated our schedule with the buses-but there were a few times where my patience was worn thin-(15 minutes is my limit) :) I loved arriving at the station just as the train pulled up and getting whisked off to my next destination. Though I have to say by the time we got our rental car at the end of the week for our road trips I was SO ready to be done with buses and trains.

While we were in Atlanta we visited the Federal Reserve Bank and learned all about "monetary policy"; the Botanical Gardens and learned of all the beautiful flowers we will never grow in Southern Arizona; the Atlanta History Center where we toured what a typical pre-civil war farm would have really been like and a post civil war antebellum beauty The Swan House. This mansion depicted the wealth of the reconstruction era with plenty of gilded mirrors, marble floors and unparalleled landscape architecture. (The Swan House was one of my favorites). While at the Margaret Mitchell House the kids had a chance to type on a "real" typewriter. We saw not 1 not 2 but THREE Whale Sharks at the Georgia Aquarium swimming in a tank of Manta Rays and hammer head sharks. SO AMAZINGLY COOL! I tasted about 40 different soda pops from around the world at The World of Coca Cola. We learned it doesn't take much for a little monkey to out maneuver zoo keepers and enjoy several hours of freedom at the Atlanta Zoo. While at the High we viewed some of the most beautiful cars that have ever been engineered, and reaffirmed how irritating modern art can be and how lovely American art was in the 1800's. While at Six Flags I learned two things 1) Insisting that my son go on the most scary roller coaster in the park was actually a good thing in that it helped him have an insanely good time the rest of the day. Conquer the worst first and the rest is a piece of cake. The Georgia Scorcher was defeated TWICE-and I'm pretty sure Noah was one of the youngest riders ever-he just made the height limit thanks to the extra moisture in the air creating a little more volume on the top of his head. The second thing I learned was that walking around in the pouring rain with my family singing "Hey There Delila" at the top of our lungs in search of the perfect chili dog while the rest of the park patrons scurried out of the park was actually more fun than riding the rides at the park. On a side note-because we stuck it out and the park cleared out Hannah got to ride all by herself-(meaning NO ONE else was on the ride)on a splash coaster. She said it was awesome.

I revisited my birth place and birth home in Columbus Georgia, and completely fell in love with Savannah Georgia and the Atlantic coast. Savannah has all the charm of a little European town, all the history of colonial settlement, all the romanticism of the South and layers upon layers of picture postcard views around every corner. Live Oaks and Spanish moss will haunt me forever. As far as the Atlantic goes-BATH WATER!!!! Jared and I will definitely be revisiting Savannah. I also learned that Walgreens can be the most fascinating place to spend hours in. Greeting cards have really come along way.

I am happy to be home-it's nice to look out a horizon. Georgia was beautiful-and I'm grateful that in some small way I get to claim a piece of it as my own.

Is it really almost May?

Kids at the jump rope car wash giving Silvy a wash down.

Jared w/Mitch at the Gladden Farms duathlon.

She's 1!!!!!!!!!!!

My sweet nephew Charlie!

Engagement pics at Sabino Canyon. (I almost lost my camera to raging waters....)

Spring pictures for two of my favorite models....

Enough of the "time is going by so fast" nonsense-blah blah blah.... It's not like it's going to slow down because I keep acknowledging the seemingly warp speed that life has taken on. I just need to be better about posting more often. We have been having alot of fun. School is beginning to wind down for the kids and we are in great anticipation for the summer fun to begin. Before I get ahead of myself and post about future plans I should finish reflecting on past events.

Two days ago Jared and I had a workout date night at Crossfitt. I AM REALLY SORE. One of the trainers there was kind enough to send us pictures from the couples event-but I'm to vain to post them. Let's just say they are less than flattering. Sometimes I feel like the most unphotogenic person in the world. How ironic.

Jared also finished a duathlon and did awesome! He was frustrated about his down time in getting his shoes on and off-but he will be better prepared next time.

The kiddos are doing awesome-Hannah has mastered another piano feat-The Malaguena. Noah is an awesome little guitar player. He has almost all his chords learned. I will post video soon. (Maybe tonight...) Bradeigh is awesome at being irresistably adorable. I love her toothy grin-6 teeth now. She is almost walking.

In between everything I've been taking pictures, and while my love and appreciation of photography is long standing-I waiver between wanting to devote the time to a business and just wanting to be a friend who can take pretty good pictures. I like being a friend that can take pretty good pictures-who occasionally makes a little bit of $$ to support a hobby. So unless it is a special circumstance I'm not taking any more referrals-just keeping the clients I already have and like. :)

Now for future FUN! Going to Atlanta soon!!!!!! I have never been to the south since my birth at Ft. Benning a Columbus GA army base. So it will be neat retracing my early beginnings with my mom who is accompanying us on this trip. It will also be an interesting opportunity to trace more history of our country spanning from the civil war to civil rights. I also hear there is a really neat aquarium.

AND AND AND AND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My amazing husband has made it possible for me and the kids to accompany him to CHICAGO this June!!!!!!! I didn't think it was possible-but Jared made it possible, and I am so excited to take the kids back and show them all the places we enjoyed so much.