Snapshots from October

This month was filled with many park days, and the start of many soccer practices! We started out this month with General Conference and while I wish so so badly that we could have watched it with zero interruptions, I still got something out of each talk and I was thankful for that. 

Laney started playing on her little soccer team. She is so cute with her shy little smile during those practices and games. We've loved cheering her on! 

Crew loved his Halloween parade this year, and bringing treats to share to class. 

Peter stepped up his game this month and really out did himself by climbing on any surface he could...so taking him to the park was a relief for all of us.

 We went to the farm weekly, and sometimes with cousins! A treat for all of us. These kids are all growing like weeds. (Reminder for next year: skip the farm pass, and invest in a yearly zoo pass.)

 We were so lucky to have my parents, Zach and Lindsey surprise us by coming down to AZ for the grand opening of Coldfront! (more on that later.)  It was so sweet to see them with the kids, and of course, we all got spoiled!

 ^^^One of the nights we visited my grandparents house, and I snuck over to take this of Crew playing. I love watching him play. He doesn't like when people watch him (wonder who he got that from. ME.) So I had to be sneaky. Love that boy so darn much. 

 It was a treat to have them here for Laney's soccer game! She plays the entire 1st half, but gets burned out by the second. It's pretty funny. (I'll admit..I loved having extra help there!)

 Saturday night was our ward halloween party. Huge shout out to Lindsey who basically pulled the photo backdrop together for me...I was a heavy procrastinator that week. 

 All 3 kids snuggled up listening to Grandpa Tom's bedtime stories!

 We had a last minute Halloween Party at the house with some of Crew's friends...it was funny watching Crew since he doesn't really love dance parties or attention. 

My Girl

As much as I love being a boy mom, there is a special spot for this girl. Heavenly Father knew that I needed pink, doll houses, and dress up clothes in my life. I have been soaking up all of this alone time we get often. She is talking a ton these days and I love hearing what she has too say.

We love playing house with the dolls, or her calico critters. 

She loves all things motherly and it makes me heart swell! I love watching her adore what I did at that age too. 

She LOVES shopping and that's dangerous for the both of us. New shoes or a dress just makes her so happy. (wonder where she got that from...)

There are days where I feel like she needs a sister, and want her to have one thats close to her age. But then I love just having her and watching her brothers smother her with love.

This girl is loved!

(Of course I snapped a few of her pouty lips because we are seeing that a lot these days...but I couldn't help it! It is frustrating getting those tiny clothes on those tiny hangers.)

Thankful.

I'm knee deep in work photos that I always forget about documenting our little life! I wish I did it more often, but I am so grateful for this blog I have to read through. My sweet Crew is very much into the chronological order of days, months, and seasons right now. So when I put up our Christmas tree a week after Halloween, he was upset! He said, "no mom, it goes Halloween, THANKSGIVING, and then Christmas." (I still put up the tree) but I was thankful for his quick reminder that I needed to still remember Thanksgiving. I came across an article somewhere on the internet that talked about mothers scouring Instagram and Pinterest for hours on end trying to curate a perfectly decorated home. For some reason I struggle with this a lot, so it was fitting that I came to this article. To sum it up, this mother didn't have a decorated home or the brand new "plain wooden toys" or white kitchen...but she had a lot of love to give her children, and they knew they were loved. They had a home, running water, beds, clothes and toys. They had parents who created a safe and loving environment. That's all they need. 

I knew all of these things already, and knew that I probably should calm it down with the house decor (it's just too fun) but I was so thankful for that post. I also know that a home that I create with beautiful things makes me very happy. There is a balance in all things, but I needed this shift in my perspective on mothering and homemaking, and for that, I am thankful. 

I am getting very excited to be up North with my family for Thanksgiving, and finally get to feel some cool weather with the kids. They are excited to be all bundled up in coats. I love being their mother.

My heart is full this week! 

Hawaii Day 1

Hawaii was so good to us this year! I've been putting off this post for a number of reasons, but it's mostly because writing my feelings out is difficult to do sometimes! We had a really great trip. Filled with so much family, and lots of alone time with just Alex and I. We don't get that enough. I'm missing a handful of photos from this day...but I'll find them soon. (downside of taking too many photos.) 

We woke up early and went for a run around a neighborhood, and eventually made it down to a small beach. We saw some sea turtles swimming around, and sent some videos of that to the kiddos. We went with our family to the beach that day and then to dinner! The sunset was incredible, and I loved being able to see the pretty views without any kids there to distract me :) 

FIVE

Our Crew boy turned 5 years old last month! He had been looking forward to this birthday for months, and was counting down the days. I was extremely sad when I realized during our Hawaii trip that we wouldn't be home until his birthday, later that afternoon. I read our tickets wrong, and assumed we would be there Sunday. NOT leaving Hawaii Sunday, and arriving Monday. Anyways...thanks to Aunt Lo for making it extra special for him when he woke up! I was extra sad about missing that morning because Crew was devastated when he learned that Hawaii was in the month of September. Nearly everyday he would make sure that it wasn't ON his real birthday. (....tears....)

 What a joy it has been to mother this sweet little boy. I miss those days so much when it was just him and I in that little condo in Eagle Mountain. (still my favorite place we've ever lived.) We made so many good memories there. I remember when I was in the early weeks of pregnancy with Laney, and I was so darn sick. I couldn't do anything, and not living by my mom during that time was tough. I remember Crew being extra careful around me, and when I would throw up in the toilet, he would try to copy me after I was done. He was such a hoot. 

 When we got home from Hawaii, I let him have a few early birthday gifts. He is in a stage where he loves ANYTHING gold, and money. So when I found these playing cards...it was perfect. It's a little treasure that he will never forget. Along with those seashells...it's the little things. 

 Later that evening, we celebrated his birthday with cousins and grandparents! He graciously picked that rainbow cake at Target when I told him that the poop emoji cake was definitely not coming home with us. 

 Cute cousins waiting anxiously for presents. 

 Grandma Tara bought him snap pees for a gift and it was hilarious to see his reaction. HE LOVED THEM. 

 The next day, we had a little swim party with some friends. The pool was too cold so the kids didn't last too long there. We had pizza, and a piñata! 

 Crew was in heaven with the birthday gifts he received. He has the best people surrounding him! He played with all of his fun toys for that entire week straight. At the end of the week I finally let him play with the science kit that my mom bought him. Crew loved that thing...but it's so not my style. Lets be honest! It was fun seeing him act like a scientist though. Note to self: always keep vinegar on hand. Every single science project uses it! 

Thats a wrap. We had such a fun few days celebrating this boy. And now he's already asking when he turns SIX. Don't worry buddy. It's right around the corner. (more tears...)