{It's official...And this past week...}

Shane signed me up for a sprint TRI on my 30th birthday!! woohoo! :) I am excited. This sprint TRI is a lot smaller(less running, biking and running) than the average. At first i thought "That's nothing. I need more of a challenge." But, the more i thought about it the more excited i am. This particular race is geared towards beginner triathletes. They only allow 100 participants so that you don't feel lost in the crowd and they are staffed with race volunteers to help you figure out where to go and what to do. It has lots of different participants of every level, age and body type. They have the swim part in a pool and the swimmers enter the water every 10 seconds. And the biking part has some hills to give a little bit of a challenge. It's only a ... 250 yard swim 8 mile bike 2 mile run I really wanted a longer swim. I like swimming. If majority of the race were swimming i would love it. At the same time, i like this distance b/c it kind of will give me a feel for the whole sprint TRI event. I will get to see how i add up, if i think i could handle more, etc. It's a good FIRST time race. :) Best of all, this race is on my 30th birthday. What a way to start my 30's. :) Shane was gone this last wednesday up until sunday afternoon. I am getting used to doing everything on my own. It's been hard adjusting, but i am doing it. :) It was really hard while he was gone, but it always seems that when times get tough, i somehow manage to push myself harder and harder and get through things just fine. I had my moments where i wanted to break down, but i don't...and i manage to buck up and keep going. That's good. Seriously, while he was gone it was so darn busy. Shane left early wed. morning. We all took him to the airport to see him off. I had mutual on wednesday night, practicing our dance for the second night in a row. I took both boys for soccer practice on thursday night and went to a relief society party that night(free dinner!!). :) Friday i visit taught 2 ladies, had a showing at the house and had the young women over for a movie and pizza night. I let the two older boys stay up until 10:00, which i realized was a mistake b/c of the way they acted the next two days. Saturday i was at the soccer fields with the boys from 12:45 up until 3:30 p.m. Then i had a YW broadcast to go to that night. Had to run to the store beforehand to pick up stuff for it, with all THREE boys(not fun), got there and set up things.When the dinner was done, Helped clean up and take down, hurried and got the boys home, got them ready for bed, and put them straight to bed....Just in time for me to clean the house again to get it ready for an open house on sunday. Woke sunday morning. Got all four of us ready. Went to sacrament(which was mainly not a good experience)...jetted out of there as soon as the prayer was over. Got us all changed. Made a picnic lunch, picked up a little more for the open house. Went to pick up shane at the airport and we were able to have a picnic lunch together. Came home and had to make 2 batches of a s'more cookie for the yw camp meeting(which i did not stay for). Seriously, this was only half of it. I won't get into the other half of it. It was a crazy time. I learned more patience and also grew closer to my boys. :) I truly love young women's, but i have learned that my calling as a 2nd counselor in primary wasn't as busy as i thought it was while in the middle of it. :) It was actually very easy compared to this calling! In fact, i miss that calling! I can say that, but honestly say i love my calling in the young womens. haha! I am learning to deal with busy-ness. :) Is that a word? I don't like busy. At all. So, trying to juggle being a mom of three all alone, a sometimes part-time sometimes full-time job as a yw leader, showings for the house, sports, and other random things that pop up(which occurs often)....it's hard. AGAIN, like i have said 500 times before...I CANNOT WAIT UNTIL WE MOVE FROM HERE! :) Honestly, i will miss the people though. But i can't wait to move. Let's just hope that i don't look back on my time here and think "oh that was easy!" If that happens...shoot me now. :)

{Today's Pictures...}

Try to notice Tanner's HAIR throughout all these pictures. He got out of the bath, got dressed, and came out of his room with wet hair completely PLASTERED to his head, and somehow his face was still soaking wet, but you can't notice it in these pictures. He was all dry except for his entire head that was soaked! It was hilarious. Not only that, but only the top of his hair was soaked. The sides of his hair were completely dry. And he still had soap in his hair. He smelled like berries the entire rest of the day. Strong smell of berries. It was a nice change! :) So, i had to take pictures of him and he thought it was funny...

{Picture of the Day}

Jaydon got into some cupcakes, and of course i didn't know about it until it was too late. Anyhoo...The frosting on these cupcakes were black. These things turn your whole mouth black when you eat them, and turn ANYTHING that touches the frosting, well, BLACK...my fingers are still stained from it. These were at our youth fireside, which we called "Black and White". So, that is why some cupcakes had black frosting.

This picture is of Jaydon's new manly mustache. He loved it and his brothers loved laughing about it. Here, he is just taking a break from running around. He does this when he gets tired. Just plops himself on the ground for a minute...recharges...and then goes again. :)

{Spring Break, Soccer, and MORE}

Pictures from New Mexico... I wrote all about New Mexico at the bottom of this post. I can't drag my pictures to the bottom anymore and i don't know why. Anyone have problems with that?

Best Friends!!!... Our very own personal chefs for the day. They made us lots of pizza, hamgurgers and ice cream cones....

Getting a workout in on the kids workout machines!!!...

Shopping for food and ringing it up!!!...

The big slide we went down together!! He LOVED it!

Our boys are going strong in Soccer this season! Here are a few pics of them in action...
Gavin playing HARD out in the 80 degree weather...

Gavin does such a good job at soccer! He gets out there and plays so hard! He loves soccer and this is his third season playing it! I think it will be one that he will stick with for years. AND i have so much fun watching Gavin and Tanner play. I love being a soccer mom. I have a feeling i won't have an easy time with it in a few years...you know when they start playing rough! His last game was rougher than i would have liked. This one kid shoved Gavin...and 5 minutes later takes him down to the ground. Inside, my mother lioness comes out! I want to go protect him, but i can't! :)

Practicing before the game...

Tanner loves it so much that he is smiling while playing the game!!! :)

Sitting on the bench waiting for his turn to play...

Gavin has made a goal at both of his games so far AND so has Tanner! We were all shocked at Tanner's last goal he made. He kicked it from the middle of the field all the way to the goal and made it in!!! It was so awesome and he was sooooooo PROUD of himself! It was the coolest! He has struggled a bit at the beginning of soccer...feelings of being shy and nervous around people he doesn't know. He has finally warmed up and is doing such a good job. He put his soccer uniform on EVERY single day. Right now he is outside practicing soccer all on his own. He is kicking it back and forth in the front yard and he is doing his own running drills trying to see how fast he can go. It's so cute. He is a good defender too...one thing everyone noticed at his first game. :) It's so fun watching him play his FIRST sport ever!

Albuquerque, NEW MEXICO

I went to visit my BEST friend in Albuquerque, NM over spring break. I took all three boys with me and we went from a Monday to a Friday. We had lots of fun. It was a 7 hour drive and the boys did fairly well. There was a bit of whining, but i can't complain too much. :)

First, i want to mention something we talked about. Lauri's mom gave every child in the family TWO books to read. Lauri told me what an EYE opener these books were. So, i looked over them and skimmed them a little. I decided i had to go buy one of them. HONESTLY, this book is an eye opener. I believe EVERY WOMAN in America needs to read this. It doesn't matter if you are struggling in your marriage or think you are doing great in your marriage. This book is a good reminder for every single woman. It's called "The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands". I have it up on the top right of my blog so you can see what it looks like. Really, everyone should go buy one now and read it. :) The other one, which i am going to read when i am done with this one, is called "The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriage."

We had a blast at Lauri's house. She has a daughter that is the same age as Gavin. They are only about one month apart. FUN, huh?! They all stayed busy playing and having fun the entire time. It was nice b/c Lauri and I just had fun chatting and chatting while the kids played.

Day One(Arrival): We got there around 3:00 p.m. We went to the park for awhile to let the kids play and then we came back and cooked some dinner and hung out for the evening and watched The Bachelor!!

Day Two: We went to a fun kids place called Red Light Green Light. It was tons of fun for the kids. They had a blast. After that we went to a place called Dion's. We ordered a large pizza. BOY is their pizza sooooo good. They had a green chile pepperoni pizza that lauri and i ate. YUM! I can't stop thinking about it! Then we came home. The kids had quiet time while Jaydon napped and lauri and i just sat talking for a few hours before it was time to get dinner going. After dinner we talked more while the kids played. After they went to bed we watched a movie.

Day Three: We went to a jumping place called "Hoot's". That place is FUN! Even adults can enjoy it! They have those huge bouncing things that you can get on. One was a HUGE slide. I took jaydon to the top and went down with him. I thought he could possibly get scared, but i wanted to try to see if he would like it or not. He LOVED it. He laughed the whole way down. And you go so fast that it tickles your stomach. After that he wanted to go down all by himself. He seemed too little to be going down that thing, but he loved it. He went down probably 20 times. They also had a big play area that you can crawl through. Up at the very top is a slide. It's a very slippery slide so you go very fast. It was fun. I loved it just as much as the kids loved it! :) We went home and cooked dinner, let the kids play the rest of the evening. We watched another movie that night after they went to bed.

Day Four: We went bowling. I saw it as something that would be tons of fun, but i didn't think that Jaydon would be hysterical like he was. He wanted to bowl every turn. When he realized that he could only have two turns and then he had to wait for everyone else, he flipped out. He wasn't happy. I had to take him away from the bowling balls while everyone else took their turn. Then half way through, lauri took care of him to give me a break. :) That was difficult. We were ready to get out of there....especially since we were tired of listening to the people next to use cursing and blabbing way too much. When we got back, Lauri and i left the kids with a babysitter and went to eat at Olive Garden!! FUN! After that we went and watched a movie in the theater. Then we went walking through the mall looking at stuff for a while. It was so nice to get out and just hang out without kids. :)

Day Five: We left. :( I got home around dinner time. I realize that driving long distances really are not that bad when YOU are the one driving. :) I am always in the passenger seat, but i think that is going to change. Being the person that's driving seems to make the drive more bearable. I don't know why. :)

Pictures at top of page

{My Testimony...}

I know this may not be a post for some, which is why you can stop reading now if it makes you uncomfortable, but i have been feeling the need to write this on here for awhile...mainly for myself. I do a much better job at expressing my feelings through writing than i do through speaking. :) And i actually learn a lot more about myself and my feelings when i write them down.

In my life lately, i feel this strong need, and strong pull, to protect my family, for my life to be RIGHT, to be what i know i need to be and what i can be; I feel a need and desire to be in a place in my life spiritually so that i can have the Lord help me and guide me in my everyday life, not only for my own protection and guidance, BUT for that of my FAMILY most importantly. I have to say, there have been many times where the spirit has guided me SPOT ON in the protection of my family on quite a few occasions. I am so grateful for that.

I am so grateful for the Spirit in my life. SO grateful. I am grateful for the BOM and its guidance, it's testifying of our Lord and Savior and his love for each of us, the comfort it brings in fearful and difficult times, the spirit it brings, the wisdom it brings , the reassurance it brings in times that are good, etc. It's a book of wealth and knowledge that can't steer a person wrong. It testifies of our Savior most importantly and also helps us to know how we should be and what he wants us to be so that we can draw closer to him and be more like him, so that we can return to him. I know of it's truth. I know our Heavenly Father gave it to us to help us. Most importantly, i know my Heavenly Father and Savior are REAL. I know it. I could never deny that knowledge of their existence. Never. And words can't even come CLOSE to describe of my thankfulness and love for them. I am so grateful for them.

I am so grateful for our Prophet who leads and guides this church. I am so grateful for General Conference. I love listening to General Conference b/c it's modern day revelation. It's what our Heavenly Father wants us to know. I am so grateful for his words during General Conference and that we have the opporunity to READ all the General Conference addresses in the Ensign one month later. It's amazing how the messages can help you in a different way each time you read them.

I am so grateful for my family. Families are forever. And i am so grateful that i can be sealed to my husband and boys and that we can be a forever family.

I am so grateful for prayer. I don't know what i would do without it. I am so grateful i can go to my Heavenly Father and express my gratitude, my desires, and my love for him. I know he listens to me and to everyone. I know he loves us and wants us to talk to him.

I am grateful for Joseph Smith. I am grateful that he was able to humble himself and go to our Heavenly Father and ask which church is true. And i am so grateful for his tremendous FAITH to do what Heavenly Father asked of him. He had great FAITH to go through the crud he had to go through and not give up. He gained nothing temporally by doing what was asked of him. But, spiritually he gained everything. He was chosen b/c there probably was none who could do what he did. That would take tremendous faith and strength in our Heavenly Father.

I am so grateful for the peace and calm this gospel brings into my life...especially during these crazy times. There is a great peace and calm that comes through doing what the Lord asks of us....by drawing closer to our Heavenly Father. Because when we do those things, When we do what's right, we can have the spirit to be with us. The spirit speaks calmness to my soul. It makes me better all around. I am to a point where i desire the spirit to be with me always. And i make sure i can keep it with me by doing what i know i need to do to keep it. Because i don't like being without it.

I have a Testimony of this gospel. I know it's true. I know my testimony is how Elder Richard G. Scott expressed in last General Conference, "A testimony is not emotion. It is the very essence of character woven from threads of countless correct decisions. These choices are made with trusting faith in things that are believed and, at least initially, are not seen. A strong testimony gives peace, comfort, and assurance. It generates the conviction that as the teachings of the Savior are consistently obeyed, life will be beautiful, the future will be secure, and there will be capacity to overcome the challenges that cross our path. A testimony grows from understanding truth distilled from prayer and the pondering of scriptural doctrine. It is nurtured by living those truths with faith anchored in the secure confidence that the promised results will be obtained."

I could go on for quite some time and go into greater detail about everything i said, but i will leave it at that. Just know, i do have a testimony of this gospel and i love my Savior and Heavenly Father to no end. :)

{Our Recent Activities}

The boys Love taking baths when Gavin is at school. Gavin takes showers now, so he doesn't have the bath time like Jay-d and Tanner anymore. They LOVE bath time. Jaydon gets extremely excited about it. He yells "BATH!!!" And runs to the bathroom and jumps all around! He has so much energy. It's almost contagious. haha! Here is Gavin with his Leprechaun trap. He made this and brought it to school today to show everyone and explain how the trap works. They are going to leave the traps out over spring break and when they get back they get to see if anyone caught a leprechaun OR if he made an appearance at all. :) As you can see, he made a leprechaun HAT and at the top of the hat he placed a piece of paper, so that when the leprechaun steps on the paper he will fall down into the hole and get trapped. He put a rainbown on top and a golden nugget to entice the leprechaun. At the bottom he put a sign "do not climb ladder"...b/c we know leprechauns like to do what you don't want them to do. And he built a ladder out of wood sticks. He was excited about it. We made it more enticing by putting shamrocks all over and some gold glitter.

Last weekend Shane and Gavin and Tanner went to the Monster JAM. We were all supposed to go together, but Jaydon was pretty sick and he was napping, so i stayed home with him. The boys had lots of fun and i was actually able to get the house clean and had dinner cooking when they got back. I enjoyed it. :) And that day we had somebody come and make our lawn nice and beautiful. He trimmed the bushes, edged, weeded, raked up the leaves, mowed. Our lawn is beautiful and ready for summer. The grass is turning GREEN! It's great!

One of the Monster Trucks...

It's so funny b/c shane will often tell me about dental stuff, and through all his words he uses he thinks i am supposed to know what the heck he is talking about. I don't. But it's so second nature to him that he thinks i should naturally know too! The same goes for me with photography. I expect him to know how to take pics b/c it's so easy, but he can't quite get it. I understand. :) He came home with pictures where there faces are completely blown out(way too bright ) or they are all blurry. I had to laugh. Most people who are into photography know that when you understand it you don't put your camera on Automatic setting. You just don't. My camera doesn't even have an automatic setting option. Probably b/c they know that if you are getting a camera that's professional, well, pro's just don't use auto settings. Not that i am a pro. Trust me. That's too weird. I always manually do it. Without question. It's second nature to me now, but i still have lots to figure out. Anyway, handing him my camera and expecting him to know what to do with it is like him handing over dental tools and expecting me to know what to do with it. Won't work. :) And that's okay. But here is the best picture he was able to capture of the boys...

This weekend we don't have any responsibilities! Shocker! Well, at least i don't. I can't wait. The boys have their soccer games! And i can't wait to watch! I am leaving on Monday with the boys and we are heading to New Mexico to visit my bestest friend! :) That's during Gavin and Jocelyn's spring break. Jocelyn(my best friends daughter) is the same age as Gavin. They are only one month apart.I can't wait to see Lauri and to chat and to just get out of wichita falls! :) She is about 7 hours away and that's not really a bad drive at all. :) Quite easy in fact. I will have lots of pictures to share. We will head back home friday morning.

{Gahhhh.....}

So, we had some sick boys again. Poor dear's. :) Just glad i haven't gotten it YET. Puking, sore throats, fevers, major congestion. I needed to take them in. I called yesterday morning and they said "We have walk-ins for sick kids until 10:00 a.m. so you can just come in right now." I thought "oh perfect". I got there at about 9:30 a.m. The place was PACKED. Every chair was taken except for a few in the waiting room. Every chair was taken in the two hallways by the waiting room. People were standing. I couldn't believe it. I didn't know what to do b/c right then i wanted to turn right back around and go home. BUT i was worried about my boys. So, i found a seat and waited. And waited. And waited. Jaydon was becoming very restless. Screaming. Throwing his fits like he did in the grocery store. Everyone was staring. But this time i couldn't IGNORE the stares b/c we were all in such CLOSE quarters. I was being WATCHED while my son acted like a screaming upset, sick, tired child. I tried doing things to help him, but it only would help VERY temporarily. He ate all three fruit snacks and wanted more. He was hysterical, especially by the end. When the doc was talking to me i couldnt understand her b/c his screams were drowning out everything else. haha!

Anyway, we sat in the waiting room for 2 1/2 hours. We ended up being at the doc's for three hours yesterday. Let's just say, it was a nightmare. Before we went to the doctor's office i got all three boys out the door to take gavin to school, and when we got back i had to HURRY and finish cleaning my house so that the realtor could come by and take pictures of the inside of the house. I was scrambling to clean and scrambling to get out of the door to get the boys to the doctor. We got home at 1:00.
I loaded the boys at 3:00 and went to pick up gavin from school. We got home at 3:30. Gavin had soccer from 5:30-6:30, so i loaded them in the car at 5:00. Headed out the door again. I sat in the car during his practice and was dozing in and out of sleep. Tanner fell asleep in the backseat and the only reason i couldn't fall completely asleep is b/c JAYDON wanted food and water, so he was definitely LETTING ME KNOW when he wanted more. :) haha! That kid. He is sooooo busy. He doesn't know how to slow down. Man, he is a full-time job.

About 45 minutes through practice gavin twisted his ankle. So, we headed home so that we could ice it, but i stopped by the pharmacy on our way home to pick up our prescriptions before we could completely get home. I didn't have any dinner ready b/c i was too tired to put something together before practice. So, i made eggs and toast. Filling i know. Especially for dinner. It worked for the boys though so that is what matters.

Somewhere through all this craziness, the Realtor called me. She called to confirm a showing of the house for Wed. from 1:00-2:00 and tonight from 6:30-7:30. I didn't answer b/c i had no clue she called even though i did have my phone with me. I probably didn't hear it b/c of Jaydon. :) haha! So, i checked my texts and was reprimanded by the owner of the house b/c i didn't answer my phone. Nice.

Good news: The boys didn't have strep throat. I thought they had it. I am so glad they didn't have it!. More good news: I was able to watch the last hour of Bachelor last night. Then we went to bed. Even more good news: I am going to visit my best friend all next week. I am taking the boys. It's going to be a nice break for me! I cannot wait.

{Holy Moly...}

I am sure most mom's can relate to this scenario....You are tired. Worn out. You go to the grocery store and without warning or notice your CHILD freaks out and throws a crying/screaming fit, all while everyone stares at you. He won't stop, And then you realize you might start crying too b/c you can't take it anymore. Yup. Today. That was me.

Everything was fine except for the fact that i am TIRED. I went to Wal-Mart to buy aisle groceries. Then i went to another grocery store to buy their produce. The boys always sit down in the car in front of the basket. Tanner sat in his usual seat, in front of the steering wheel and Jaydon sat in his seat. We have never had a problem grocery shopping before. I start to hear Jaydon making his loud frustrated crying grunting noises. I look down and he is smooshing Tanner into the side of the car b/c he didn't want to share the steering wheel. Tanner is looking at me like "mom, what the heck is this kid doing? Get him off me!!!"

Jaydon was getting louder and louder, more frustrated and frustrated. I pulled him out and tried sitting him in his usual seat in the cart in front of me. He wouldn't let me put him there. I try holding him to calm him. He calms down for about ten seconds and then starts screaming and crying again. Then he starts wiggling like a worm, screaming more. You would have thought he hated me and was trying to run far away from me by the way he was acting. What a nightmare. He was seriously freaking out. He doesn't act like that very much and so i didn't quite know what to do. I forced him in his sit and buckled him. All the while people are staring and looking, but i am trying REALLY hard to IGNORE that fact. :) He somehow slithered his way out of his seat belt as i was getting strawberries, screaming, so a nice lady went near him to make sure he wouldn't fall. She tried talking sweet to him to help, but he didn't want anything to do with that. He reached for me, screaming more. He wouldn't stop. I didn't quite know WHAT TO DO. :) And if you have heard Jaydon scream...well...you know his screams are so loud. He has a very deafening scream. I have no doubt the ENTIRE grocery store was WONDERING what was going on!!! I was about to start crying myself and join in with Jaydon's crying fest. Then this nice man working in produce said "Would he like a banana?" hahaha! WOULD HE? R U KIDDING? Heck yes he would! :) HOW DID YOU KNOW HE LIKES BANANAS? MORE LIKE, LOVEs bananas. He brought over a banana and talked all sweet to jaydon and gave it to him and then jaydon was fine, for the most part. He started trying to cry again, but i did my best to DISTRACT him and focus on his BANANA. And the banana man came back over and tried talking all sweet too. He was nice. :) ANYWAY, that's only part of it. He can reach for the food in the cart. And he grabs it and tries taking bites out of it(with success), tries opening boxes(with success),etc. He always manages to do this when i am focusing on my list and grabbing things off the shelves. haha!

WOW....what a morning. I am already exhausted, but that incident sure did take more out of me. Aaahhhh..... I really need a nap. And a vacation. oH A Vacation. THat seriOUSly souNDS like HEAVEN riGHT aBout NOW! A nap on a hammock out by the ocean in the shade. Nothing to worry about. Nothing to think about. I can do whatever i want. Oh. my. It's calling my name. :)

{Pic of the DAY}

*Here is another picture of Jaydon contorting his shirt in weird ways. Shane walked in his room this morning to get him out of bed and he said "Grab the camera ash!" Jaydon is so funny. He is very messy too. I took him with me to Young Women's last night and he decided to color with a blue marker all over his hand and then rub his hand on his face. We got home way past his bedtime so i didn't bathe him. :) Messy kid. Really, i nee to bathe him at least twice a day b/c he somehow makes a horrible mess of himself all the time!!!!

*Our house is now up FOR SALE. No, we didn't buy it. We are renting. BUT the owner's want to sell it and we have to go through that whole selling process AGAIN. Truly, i don't like this process. It isn't fun AT ALL. That means i have to keep my house clean all the time. I don't know how i am going to do that, considering i have such a hard time keeping it clean already. This process is going to UP my stress factor and busyness. Love it. ;)

*We received the LIST of openings for where we can possibly get stationed this August. It isn't official though and won't be until after Shane goes to a convention in Georgia at the end of this month. He will be gone for Five days presenting research. Anyway....there he will find out more details and the "LIST" will become more official after that. So, i will fill you in on all that once we have the official details of where we might end up.

*I have now turned FOUR years of my blog posts into books. I have four books of journaling and i LOVE it! I am so glad i have these things to remember. The boys love looking at all of it and laughing about all the pictures. It's great.