Snapshots

Aunt Lindsay sent everyone a picture of Lena sitting! She is going to be ONE soon, we can't believe it! Good Job Lena on your sitting skills!

I found like 15 Annaliesse selfies like this on my phone- Annaliesse you are hilarious. Challenging and independent, strong and determined- you are loved.

Kalia wanted a hair wrap done- so we spent the afternoon one day in the screen room listening to music and wrapping! Embroidery floss is a craft supply we use ALL the time at this house- its time to pick some more up.

The days of my kids not sleeping are long gone. This 5 year old can sleep in- she started writing down the numbers on her clock when she woke up so she could tell us what time she got up. It is absolutely adorable and man I love her.

Another fact to remember in a couple years. Remy's room is the messiest room in the house- seriously. It so frustrating but at the same time- its the last room in the house full of toys and imagination. Its the last place where stuffies have tea party's, barbies have arguments, where she takes meetings on the the toy cell phone and there is enough play money to concur the wooden food store. Where there are magic markers that are still magic, with stickers in every scribbler and lippy stuff in every purse.

Kalia and I got home Friday afternoon from stake YW camp- Barker, Annaliesse, and Remy had an amazing week at soccer camp, with Grandma and with Daddy. Grandma had fun things for them to do every afternoon, they played play ground BINGO. I think that's what they called it- they spend the afternoons going to all the playgrounds in High River. They almost did it! Just missed a couple- a couple of the main ones we do all the time.

Stake Young Woman's Camp

I love Stake Young Woman's Camp.

For SOOOO many reasons. Here are just a few!

• These great beehives had a chance to get close to their friends. Everyone got to request a buddy that stays with them- meaning their buddies become that much closer. 

• Fun things like a LIP SYNC battle cause we have enough girls to do it! All the different groups choose a song and make hilarious moves. Even the leaders got involved- we did an awesome lip sync to the Spice Girls of course.

• NEW FRIENDS both our Young Women and us Leaders meet lots of new people. The girls made some new friends in the stake. I got to know some other YW leaders better and meet a few new ones that quickly became friends.

• Our Stake Leaders are amazing! They love us and they love The Savior. The amount of planning, prayers, logistics and decisions that go into Stake Camp is mind boggling. And Sister Dow, Sister Moore and Sister Coombs were amazing. There is no one else I would want to wake us up with singing in a megaphone then Sister Dow.

• The ward leaders have lots of planning and meetings and gathering to do before camp- but once we get there everything is so planned out and ready for us- its rather relaxing.

• YW craft are not planned or implemented by ME!

• Hikes are easy for the masses- which means Sister Moxley can do it and Im not at the back of the hike- at least the whole time. We hiked Troll Falls- it was lovely.

• Spiritual Firesides- where the YW hear testimonies from other YW going through the same things from different wards. They see that they are not alone, all YW have trials and are working on their faith.

Monday at home

Sunday we got home from Kelowna just before bedtime- with just enough time to play a new game we found! Cobra Paw is a loud fast, fun game with lots of shouting and laughter. Remy and Barker have a hard time keeping up but in the end they managed to hold their own. 

Monday morning Annaliesse, Barker and Remy started their week of Soccer Camp- Grandma was so kind to watch the kids while we were in Kelowna, she got Monday break, then she has them Tue-Fri while was at YW camp. So I enrolled then in a morning soccer camp to give her time to work and breath.

Barker loves it LOVES it. He could do this all summer and be whole. Remy was just as excited. Annaliesse was happy to be included but she would have been just as happy to bake.

Monday during the soccer camp, Kalia and I were finishing YW camp prep! Until I remembered we both needed a bucket of snacks! Annaliesse to the rescue- she made us Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins.

Kelowna Wedding Day & Day 4

Saturday morning wasn't the greatest- it rained and rained. We tried to make the best of it with a drive around. The Moxley's Uncle BOB used to live in this area and we found his old farmstead. We saw lots of peach and apple orchards, and then headed up a Mountian to see the Valley from above. 

Lucky for Jason and Stephanie the weather cleared up and it was beautiful for the wedding. 

Congratulations Jason and Stephanie. 

We had to stop on the drive home at this random farm with the most hilarious interesting exhibits. 

It made for some good laughs.

Kelowna Day 1 & 2

We had to opportunity to spend 4 days in Kelowna BC with the Moxley adults.

Jason and Stephanie decided to do a destination wedding in BC with adults. We left Thursday morning and headed to BC. The drive out we separated into a girls car and a boys car, with Justin and Cyril flying out that night, so they could get one more day of work in. The drive out was exciting with 2 dead moose and heart stopping minute when a random lady slammed her breaks on to rubber neck the dead moose. We hung out at a stand still for construction in and out of a tunnel, had ice cream at a dairy farm and LOVED the scenery of the Kelowna valley. 

Justin and Cyril flew into Kelowna just a hour apart- meaning Karla and I are now semipros at  the Kelowna pickup lane! 

Friday we spend the day exploring Kelowna- I had no idea there was so much to see! Such a fun morning doing the boardwalk and then the afternoon at the beach. Justin, Jay and James had a great time on scooters while we listened to an amazing pianist playing on a public piano. A spot on the beach out of the sun, the water was lovely and having adult conversation all day, was a lovely phenomenon.

my teenage angst projected on my children

Eye exams today!

This is by far the most stressful (for me) thing I do with my four children. A massive  little part of me stresses out about the eye doctor, knowing they have my genes inside their little bodies someday someone might need glasses. As a parent of 4 children each child has a 26% chance of needing glasses. So every time we go my heart races when it's time to speak to the optometrist at the end. 

I was a giant dork in school.

It took me a lot of years- until I got to college to grow into my self. I was loud and obnoxious, silly and always ready for a laugh. I had no fashion sense and couldn't care less about makeup or hair. NOW some of those things are still true- but its just me.  BUT Some of that insecurity lived inside the glasses I had to wear. I started wearing contacts full time in High School, never going back to glasses until I had to for a couple months- which brought back all these feelings, as a GROWN ASS WOMAN and so I  got eye surgery first chance I got. 

We show up for the eye doctor and the kids are feeding off my underlining stress and they are going bonkers. I am trying to be cool and parent with 4 kids bouncing off walls but all I can think about is "my-stupid-eyes-and-insecurities-is-going-to-happen-to-my-babies-they-wont-have-time-to-form-their-own-problems-they-will-just-have-mine"

Yes they were a bit crazy in the waiting room. 

As I sat there with deer in the headlights look on my face.

BUT WE LEFT WITH 100% BILL OF GOOD EYES.

One more year before this stress comes up again.

We took an afternoon trip to Magrath to see the Chipman cousins! 

Leaving the eye clinic we stopped for cheese buns, sunny D and gas. I got myself a big DP and a bag of spitzes to ease my stressed out brain and away we went.

Derek and Kendra were in the middle of moving and had a couple days in Magrath before they headed out again. I love that the kids look forward to seeing Aunt Shawna, Uncle Brent, and all my cousins. We hung by the pool, had snacks and dinner and lots of play time.