Rolling Rolling Rolling keep those bowling balls rolling

We took the boys bowling a few months ago. Landon had been begging us to go bowling and so we decided that we would take them. I read a blog where they talked about how you only had 936 weekends with your kids from the time they are born till the time that they leave. It really hit me hard that my babies are growing up and that I dont have forever with them by this blogs calculations I only have about 636 weekends left with landon so our weekends have taken on a whole knew meaning. It was a tun of fun. They had a blast and I think it was the first time Braddoc has ever really bowled. It was fun to watch how serious he was and how he would just stand there and stare at the ball roll down the lanes. Tayton helped me roll my ball down everytime and he was so excited about it. The only picture Noah took of my helping Tayton bowl was of my big butt so that will not be inculded. We gave the boys lunch there and they seemed to think it was a really fun day, so I glad we had the chance to do it with them. There was a couple in the lane next to us with no kids, and you could tell they really wanted some. they kept talking to the boys and letting them help them bowl too. It was very nice of them, something you dont see a ton of these days. After we were done bowling we got home and Braddoc fell asleep on the couch and then when it was bedtime we got his pjs on and came down to watch a movie with us like we do on lots of Saturday nights and within 10 minutes he was out. Half laying on the couch and half hanging off. Such a silly boy!I love the picture where Braddoc and Landon are standing together and braddoc has his arms around landons waist. I wish they loved each other this much every second, but I know its not possible, no one ever is super nice to each other all the time. I just hope they stay best friends for a long time.

Greek Olympics

I have always been interested in Greek Olympics, I even took a whole semester class on it when I was in high school. Going to Greece is in my top 3 bucket list things that I WILL do before I die. (Go to New york and time square for the macys day parade and to see the snow, and to go see all the WWII german historic marks are the other two in case you are curious.)

So of course when my good friend Lindsey called me to ask me if we wanted to participate in a greek olympics for the kids, I of course SCREAM, "HECK YEAH", okay maybe not really, I probably just said "yeah sure sounds good." So we went to her house where she had the olympics set up. It was Landon and Braddoc, Levi and Piper Stewart, Garyn and Naomi, and Mikie Cox. The boys loved it! they had so much fun. They had a shot put (with a pvc pipe) and Landon chucked that thing so hard. He got it the farthest and won his olive leaf for his head band, and Braddoc got the second farthest, or course both my crazy throwing arm boys got the farthest. Then they tossed a fresbie and they both go the farthest on that. Then they had a foot race, and I KNOW they both can run so fast, because when I play tag with them they catch me so fast and I can never catch them, but however they kind of trotted along so they didnt win, but let me tell you the other kids had some wheels on them, it was so cute to see them run so fast. :O) then they had an arm wrestling contest and I loved that Landon had his head propped up on his hand the whole time and pushed Levis arm down like it wasnt any big thing. Ahh such fun little boys. and then lindsey had some humis, olives, grapes, apples, and crackers. It was a totally fun time, and we decided it was going to be a yearly thing (and um now we are moving, so I guess we just have to drive back for it once a year.) She also gave them all little gold medals to hang around their neck. they couldnt have had a more fun day.

What a blessed life indeed

My kids bring such joy into my life. I cant imagine life without them. I cant imagine working outside the home, and having to leave my kids every day. I cant imagine missing out on some of the little things they do and the big things they do. I cant imagine having to have someone else teach them things and show them how to do simple little day things. I would hate to miss out on all the excitment that comes with being a stay at home mom. I am so thankful that Noah knows the value of stay at home moms, that his mom was a stay at home mom while he was growing up and that he knows how important it is to the growth and development of our children. I'm grateful that we have a good job that makes enough for us to live nicely even with me not working. There have been hard times in the past, times where we couldn't afford to go anywhere because we couldn't put gas in our car. Times where we had cable and times where we didn't (still don't but because we don't want it). Times when we had cell phones and times when we didn't. But through all of it, we have always had enough money to put food on the table and let me still be a stay at home mom. What a blessing that is. To me being at home with my kids all day is a blessing. Its hard, so hard some days, when all I see is them all day and I feel like if I hear another whiny voice, or a child asking why? or a have to deal with a little 5 year old boy who thinks he knows everything and fights me about EVERYTHING one more time that I am going to lose my mind and then the night comes or they do something so sweet and redeeming and its all worth it. Those little glimpses of good in a day full of crazy make this so worth it. And they are getting so big so fast, too fast really. Landon and Braddoc are not a toddlers anymore, and its so obvious when I'm with Tayton, that not too long ago this was Landon and Braddoc but I don't remember it all and it seems like ages ago but at the same times feels like yesterday. Some days I put them to bed and I fall to my knees with tears in my eyes asking my father in heaven to forgive me because today I was not so patient and today I didn't stop to enjoy the good and beautiful things, and I beg him to help me be the mom they deserve and to help me have a better day the next day. And you know what? he does!

There is a big patch of really tall wheat looking grass on the main base at Nellis and one day Noah told the boys that a Lion lived in there. So now every time we drive by it the boys ask me about a million questions about the lions and want to stop and wait till we see a lion. Of course we never do, and impatient Braddoc throws a fit when we don't stay "till we see a lion". Well today we all had an appointment at the hospital and Noah left for work from there, so he drove his car (the blue car) as the boys call it and turned left towards the "lion patch", we turned right. Landon immediately said "What? dads going to fight the lions? when did dad become a lion wrestler?" So I played along and said, "I don't think he is going to fight the lions, I think he is just going to work." and about 5 minutes later I hear braddoc fake sniffling in the back of the van and he says "Im so sad! Daddies going to get killed by the lions." lol I told him don't worry daddy wont be killed and so he said "What does daddy have a gun that kills lions?" I texted Noah and he said to tell the boys that he killed all the lions and now the base is lion free. Landon started laughing hysterically and said "What? are you telling the truth? my dad is really a lion slayer." All childhood innocence.

Landon is all about tape right now and he makes all sorts of things out of his tape. I find his creations all over the house. Its cute to see his little mind at work.

Tayton spends a lot of time in the corner right now. He is learning to hit from his brothers, wrestle, throw things and bite. (braddoc and landon play nibble on him and I nibble on his cute little ear, so now he bites, ahh better stop that). He always goes to the corner when we ask, but recently we had to start counting before he would listen, and sometimes we have to point him in the direction because he likes to try to fit into the most none available corner there is.

Braddoc passes out every where all the time. I never thought I would have a kid who did this, but Braddoc proved me wrong. Most of the time with out fail if we are in the car, I can be sure Braddoc will fall asleep, and sometimes he stays asleep when I bring him in the house. Sometimes I will be talking to him and then he stops talking and I go to check and he has fallen asleep. I swear he sleeps good at night, he just loves sleep like his daddy. He is also all about hooded sweatshirts. I feel like I have a teenage boy living in my house sometimes, because he only wants hooded sweatshirts and he always has to have the hood on. He asks me "does this shirt have a hat on it?"

Landon and Braddoc have to watch movies or read books or play outside during nap time so they dont wake up the younger two kiddos. They always find the most interesting ways to watch movies. I am always afraid when they get on the play house that the roof is going to cave in, it hasnt yet, but Im sure its just a matter of time.

 Braddoc LOVES to line things up, he has since he was little and he still does.  I found all there toys lined up in rows that made a nice little arching pattern one morning when I came downstairs after feeding Aowyn. I always find Braddocs toys lined up. I laughed and let them keep it for a little bit but then I had to be mom and make them clean it up because it was in the family room NOT the play room and there was no way to move around in there. Toys every where and a mommy walking with a baby is not a good combo.

 The boys love to eat apples, we go through them like crazy. I swear we buy 3-4 new bags every  4-5 days. They eat them like crazy. I love that they love apples so much, dont love when they leave them every where. But at least Tayton helps me by cleaning them up and finishing the apple himself.

 Aowyn is SUCH a happy baby. She is always smiling and laughing and very rarely cries. She lovse when you talk to her and is always in the mood for kisses. She is so high maintance though, so as long as you figure out what she wants she is good. She is now officially rolling over, has been for a little over a week. I find her on her tummy all the time when I go in to check on her at night and she likes to roll over when I have her on the floor, she also loves to grab her feet and suck on her toes. What a silly girl. She is growing so fast, I cant keep up.

Tayton loves hats. He is always changing them and trying a new look. :O) I love watching his outfits that he comes up with. He is totally becoming a little man and I am loving watching him grow. Its so bitter sweet. He also throws the funniest fits, he will run away and throw himself on the floor and grab whatever he can find to throw, pull, push or tear. Its rather comical to watch. What a little mess he is.

 

Landon had a blast his first valentines day and really put a lot of thought into making his valentines day box. I think he did a really good job. And I am proud of how hard he worked.

A name and a Blessing

We blessed Aowyn at Church on 1/08/12. It was such a beautiful day and even better that we had 1 oclock church so I could get all the kids bathed and dressed and her in her blessing out fit and pictures taken with plenty of time and not feeling overly rushed.

One of my very very very dear friends Kirsten Armstrong made Aowyn her blessing dress. As soon as I found out she was a girl I asked Kirsten to make her dress, because she has such amazing talent and I want Aowyn to wear something that was made by someone who loved her so much. Kirsten was one of the first woman I met when we moved here. We both got here close to the same time and Landon and her daughter Ila are a day apart. We have been through a lot together, deployments, babies, miscarriages, deployments, labor, heart breaks, long distance moves, trials, and blessings. I am so grateful to have her as a friend even though she lives so far away from me now, we are still great friends and I feel so blessed that my daughter got to wear a dress made by this amazing woman, it made it all the more special. My other friend Heather Jemmett made her bow and I LOVED it. It was exactly what I wanted and I think it pulled her outfit together so well. I am so blessed to have such talented friends. Her blessing day was so blissful, every time a dad blesses his daughter in church I get teary eyed because I wanted it so bad for Noah. I wanted him to hold his little girl in his arms and bless her and I never knew if that was going to happen or not. So blessing day was a huge flood of emotions for me. I of course cried so hard when he was blessing her. A friend of mine wrote down the blessing for me and it was beautiful. Noah cried while he was blessing her, which I knew he would do. Aowyns middle name sakes were both there. My dad was there standing in on the blessing and our wonderful Nurse Lorraine was there. There are pictures in here with her holding Aowyn. Its so wonderful, I am so glad to have been blessed with such amazing people in my life, who were there to share this amazing day with us. Landon, Braddoc and Tayton love her so much and its so evident in these pictures. She is one lucky little girl to have so many people who love her and want to be with her to take care of her and provide her with lifes greatest blessing. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

There is a pictures of Tayton that I love where it lookes like he is praying and thanking Heavenly Father for his baby sister. And then a picture of Braddoc kissing her, which he does a lot of. He really loves his sister and kisses her all the time.

We got orders!

So anyone who knows me and knows me well knows that I have always said I "NEVER EVER EVER want to live in Utah." And I seriously meant it. There has not been a bone or a fiber of my being that ever wanted to live in Utah. Im not sure why, I cant exactly explain it except I have met too many "utah mormons" that I have not liked very much, and even though I have met WAY more people from Utah who I have loved and adored, I have still never changed my mind. Even as a teenager I was adment that I didnt want to live in Utah or attend BYU. When missionaries come over for dinner and talk about Utah, I always cringe, because Its seriously that engrained in me that I dont want to live there.

Well for reasons Im not even sure of myself I have been fighting this battle within myself over the last few months. Last year we were reenlisting in the military and had to put out our Base of Preference list (BOP). Because Noah wants a tower rating, (it will make him a hot hiring commotity to have duel ratings) we looked at all the tower only bases. Hill AfB in Utah was one of those bases. Noah didnt even talk to me about Hill because he knows of my "never want to live in Utah" mindset. We went through the list and nothing was appeling. Nothing had all we wanted: Strong church, temple close, good shopping, nice weather and 4 seasons, a safe place to raise kids, good schools and close to the coasts (because I am anti "middle of america" living. {yes I know Im anti lots of stuff}). After going to the temple praying A LOT and I mean A LOT I felt like we needed to add Hill to our list. The inner battle was beginning, and so I prayed even more, because of course Heavenly Father knew how much I didnt like Utah and never wanted to live there and he would never send me there right? Haha, I joke right? Whats that saying, "want to make Heavenly Father laugh tell him your plans." And thats about how I was feeling.

But the amazing thing about Heavenly Father and his plans is that he ALWAYS knows how to comfort a heart. and he sure did comfort mine. I told Noah what I was feeling, a little afraid that he would laugh at me, but instead he smiled and said, "Ive been thinking the same thing, but I didnt want to say anything to you about it because I know you dont like Utah." Well By the time we submitted our list (with Hill as #3), the inner battle was raging and the want to live in Utah was winning. I actually wanted to live there, it had everything I wanted and was prefect for Noah because it was a tower only. I was to the point where I kind of wished we had put it at #1 because I wanted to go there. I was still fighting the battle though because I am stubborn and 27 years (okay maybe more like 20 years) of thinking the same way is hard to change. So I went through the full gamut of emotions. I really want Hill, to, Please Heavenly Father dont let us get hill. I really wished we had put Hill as #1, to, why did we put Hill on our list? So when the orders got Denied I thought, Okay Heavenly Father, that must have just been a test to see if we were listening to you and trusting you and we did. So thanks for that little test and thanks for not giving us Hill.

But being military and wanting to get out of Vegas so Noah could get more experience in his job and wanting to leave the killer heat and bad schools and insane allergy problems, we decided to submit orders again. So this time we went over the list, changed a few things and submitted the list again, this time with Hill as #5. I cant even tell you why we put Hill except for the fact that my heart did sink a bit when we didnt get it last time and because there was still that inner battle being fought. (sometimes I feel a little crazy with how much I go back and forth on wanting Hill and not wanting Hill). Our orders kept getting pushed back and pushed around and nothing was happening with them so we decided that we were happy in Vegas. Maybe even live here a long time (even thought that was an inner battle too, because part of me hates change and doesnt want to leave and because I love so much about Vegas and we are so set up here, but also because I hate so much about here too.) We had gotten to the point where we really were hoping they gave us orders back to Nellis.

Again at this time we were getting worried about Noah getting orders to Korea, everyone was getting them, and Noah was hot for orders there. We just wanted orders, to anywhere, hopefully somewhere nice. Honestly I would live anywhere so Noah was home for a year with us verses staying put and him getting hit with Korea orders. (we would have to stay here in the states while he was in Korea for a year).

I had a dream back at the end of January, and in my dream I dreamed we were living at Hill and a bunch of our friends were there hanging out with us in our yard. The front had grass the back had snow. I know totally weird dream stuff. I dreamed we had a bigger van and that someone was talking to me about trying out for the MOTAB (something I have always thought would be fun). I told Noah about it the next day, mostly because last time I had a dream like that, It came true. I dreamed I was the primary president and the church was on fire and I was running around looking for lost kids. I was called to be the primary president 2 days later and my "mission" while the P.P was to search out and bring back the lost kids. I also had a dream right before we found out we were pregnant with Aowyn that we had our 3 boys and a little girl and we were running around in the yard playing. I rarely dream (or at least remember my dreams) and when I do there are never real details or anything remotely normal about them, so when I do have those "semi normal" dreams I always remember them and read stuff into them. So when I told Noah he looked at me, laughed and said, "You know EVERYONE wants Hill and the chances of us actually getting it are really slim, so dont get your hopes up." I do have to admit my heart was very happy with the dream.

So fast forward a couple of months to last weekends conference when Noah and I are reading our Patriarcle blessings and talking about what we are getting from them this time. Then we are watching conference and feeling very much like we are supposed to be in Utah at some point in our life. And so here we are today at about 11 am. Noah gets a text from a friend who is watching our Bop list, he tells us we got orders. So Noah calls me (im out shopping) and says, "Are you ready for orders, cause we got em?" Me "Wha???" Noah "Yeah, to Hill AFB." And so there it is, the shaking, the nerves, the lack of being able to concentrate, the sick stomach, the overwhelmed feeling, the giddiness, the anxiety about moving, the sadness over missing our friends, the tears over leaving our home for the last 6 years, and the heart pounding out of my chest. The full gamut of emotions again. We are moving our wonderful little family to Hill, to Utah and we will be there by July 30th. I am moving to Utah, I am going to be a Utah Mormon or rather a mormon living in Utah. My best friend called and laughed and said, " I cant believe YOU are going to live in Utah. YOU, YOU are going to live in Utah." laughing myself now, Yep, thats me, anti Utah Aurie, is going to be living in Utah, and is actually pretty dang excited about it.