The Last Day in June

 Today was one of those days where I felt overrun, overstimulated, and just plain tired! All of our days blend into 1 long week out here, so I actually really never know what the date is. So today I panicked a little when I realized tomorrow is July 1st. I cannot believe that half of the year is gone. Anyways, I scrambled to find us something to do on the 4th of July. (hoping I'm brave enough to drive downtown with the kids and catch a parade) and then it was off to grab donuts with the kids. One of my many, many weaknesses are donuts. I don't think I can adequately explain my love for them on here. I found a really good donut shop here in town, and of course it's cute, and of course I didn't take a picture because my stage of life is a tad crazy out in public. But...it was cute! And the donuts were amazing, so that's a win in my book. 

After, we headed straight home for naps. I really wish Laney would take more naps, but we are lucky if we can get that #threenager to nap once a week. Peter slept great, and we had a pretty good quiet time. I indulged in a book I've been reading on parenting. I am currently reading 2 of them, plus a million podcasts...so I'm sort of buried in that right now. As I should be. I feel like I need to write a whole different post on what I'm learning, but so far I'm loving it! When Peter was awake from his nap, each child was crying over something different. And then Laney bit Crew on his back...and that was the breaking point for us all. Guess what though? I didn't completely lose it. At all. (praise those books) Instead, I said calmly and sweetly, "Ok guys! We are going to all sit in a circle and go around and tell each person what we love about them!" (which came out of nowhere. I was surprised that I came up with that. Ha!) Crew and Laney both looked at me with huge, and confused eyes. It worked. They said the sweetest things about each other right after they just had this gigantic meltdown. It was one of those times where I felt all of us encircled in the arms of Heaven above for a moment. This is what it's all about! Sibling rivalry is real, and we are entering into that stage. It's so so hard, and something that I wish we didn't have to go through. I'm just trying my hardest to make sure that my kids love each other, and think the world of each other. We will have good moments and I am going to record all that I can about them! So today was great. 

I really love these 3, and I especially love watching Peter try to keep up with the older two.

Goodbye

 

Oh this was a tough one for us. The days before we flew to NC were filled with many goodbyes! As much as I know how important it is for us to be all together as a family as much as possible, I just can't help but feeling so sad over how much we miss over summer! I can't really talk about the pool days or sunday dinners we miss with family, but that is something we look forward to so much when we move back! There is nothing better. We spent some time with friends at the park before we left, and Crew picked some flowers for Everly all on his own. He always calls her his "wife" and I think we all secretly wishes it would happen in the future. How cute would that be?! 

We went to lunch with family and I had to snap some pictures of Hazel & Laney together. I really do hope that our next/last baby will be a girl so that Laney has a sister...but if that doesn't happen, then I am so glad that she's got Hazel to take the place of a sister! These two are so cute together and Laney has already asked a thousand times to go to Haze's house. So that's where we will be in August. 

Preschool Graduation 2017

Oh this boy! He's got my whole heart for sure. This day was one to remember! He kept talking about "gradulations" for a long time. We were both so excited, until he realized that it would be his last day of school for a while. He broke down in tears the night before because would miss his friends and Miss Jenny so much. He has the sweetest heart. I love his teacher, and I cannot say enough great things about her! She's so down-to-earth (which is perfect for Crews personality) and she adores these kids so much. I love that she has a real cap and gown for them to wear too. During graduation all of the kids lined up and sang songs/said their parts for us parents. When it came to Crew, he was super shy and didn't really say anything. Then his best friend Beckham whispered yelled "Crew it's your turn! Say your name...ok your birthday...ok now sign your name." I just loved that he had his friend to help him when he needed it. It was the cutest thing. During the songs I was just trying to hold it together because the songs were so sweet, but also I just had so much love for Crew right then. He's such a good little boy! Time is flying by too fast. It scares me a little. I need make sure I am making the most of all of the time I have with him! We are doing 1 more year of preschool with Miss Jenny, and then it's off to Kindergarten. (WHAT?! HOW.) 

 

 

 

 

 

 Another meltdown missing his teacher. This boy! 

His end of the year goodies. His "about me" paper ^ had to have a photo of them. I let him choose which one he wanted, and of course he chose the Peter Pan photo. Something I don't ever want to forget! 

Happy graduation day buddy.

Tiny Dancer

Signing Laney up for the dance at the local rec center was really fun for the both of us. We had a fun group of girls from the ward that were doing it too so that made it even better! Laney would ask every day for "dance class" and looked forward to Tuesdays so she could actually go! It worked out perfectly to take Crew to school at 8:30am and then drive over to dance at 9am. We loved going somewhere those mornings! Us moms weren't allowed to watch the girls in their classroom, so we often peeked through the window as much as we could. Laney wouldn't dance much, but I could tell she was loving it. She would just sit/stand with a giant smile planted right on her face the whole time. 

The last day of the course was their recital. I was very curious as to what I would see during their tiny little performance. We were lucky to have Tara come watch too, and Laney was just so cute and shy about that little fact. It was like she was just so proud to have her grandma come watch her! So dang cute. She danced a little, but mostly stood smiling at us the entire time. It was adorable. She loved waving her wand around too. Needless to say, I am so glad we did this little intro to dance this year. She seriously keeps asking for "dance class" so I need to figure out what the plan is for that once we move home! 

There is nothing better than watching my kids participate in activities they love. I can see now why my parents did everything they could to make it to all of our performances and games! It's addicting! 

 I love seeing all my friends taking photos of their daughters. I've got the best group of gals to mom with these days.

I'm Back!

We finally have wifi in our little apartment out here in North Carolina! It has been a very long month without it. I also recently found out that Alex did in fact bring his computer out here...so that means I'm back to blogging when I feel up for it! I feel like I have so much catching up to do on here, so I'm trying not to get too overwhelmed about it. I'm more excited for that task! It's fun looking back on past photos and memories. 

We have had a really good time out here. The older two kids adjusted well, but Peter took awhile getting used to our new place. We keep our routine pretty simple out here, which I am soaking up. I realize that life is only getting busier, so I'm loving how relaxed it is right now. I am still adjusting to the very late nights, and early mornings, but it's getting better! Alex is killing it this summer in sales! It makes me so happy to see him do something he loves. I have much, much more to write, but Peter is waking up! 

Not-So-Little

*I wrote this a few months ago, but never posted it. Sure love this boy.*



I haven't documented snippets of the kids lives here lately, and the feeling that I need to hasn't gone away! There is so much that I want to write about for each child. They are all so similar, yet so unique! They are growing all too fast. Each day I swear each of them learns something new, says a new witty/hilarious comment, or just looks older. 

CREW- Oh this boy of mine. He's the oldest. The first, and our little guinea pig for parenting. (sorry bud) I can't help but just feel so much love for him. He is at a stage where he feels things very deeply. He is emotional and very strong-willed. I love his creative mind. Crew is always thinking of things that he can make his "treasures." When he is extremely tired or bored, he finds his way to my lap and snuggles for a long time while saying comments like, "oh mom, you are just the cutest girl I ever saw." "you are so beautiful." "Mom I love you so much. SO MUCH!" I could go on, but basically he just has the sweetest heart. He never fails to tell me that he loves me everyday. I know he means it. His favorite things to do right now are playing school, bank (this is his favorite), bad guy, doctor and coloring. Since we moved to the new house he has loved playing outside. He digs in the dirt by the garden boxes. He has his rock collection out there that non of us can go near. (this is what I love about kids. They take something so pointless, and turn it into something so meaningful and dear to them.) Little knick-knacks (my jewelry) are some of his favorite things to play with. He really clings tight to his friends. Luckily he met a new friend across the street who is his age. That's been a life saver for us! They love playing together. Crew is all about preschool. He goes to Miss Jenny's class, and loves everything about her and learning. Although I will say that his progress report (HA) came home and she noted that he refuses to sing any of the songs, and that he is struggling to remember the days of the week, and months of the year. So we are trying to work on those...but that's where his strong-willed personality works against us. (and his teacher) When he doesn't want to do something, there is no bribing him! I'm very curious to see how this works in elementary school. 

Crew loves going to church every Sunday. We had a family night where we talked about testimonies and read the Testimony book with the white glove. He is all about that stuff. I've noticed that he is a visual learner. He doesn't forget anything! He is so sweet when it comes to Gospel related things.