Thanks Bella & Grumpa

The tutus, crowns, wands and wings were the best birthday presents EVER! or so says Grace. LOVE YOU and thank you!

Fun with the Hortins

Tre-bo

Brinley and Grace are good friends!

Meet the Hortin Family. We have so much fun together. Good thing too or we would really make fun of Lance picking up Mike on his way home from clinic. (of course we made fun of them, but at the same time were glad they were willing to ride together so we didn't have to pack up the kids and go pick them up.)

WE LOVE STASIA!

Meet Stasia. The best babysitter/playmate/friend EVER! Who else gets a 18 year old to babysit 3 crazies whenever they want. Stasia left us for UVU. I don't blame her. College is fun and she will have a great time.

It was hard for us to say goodbye to Stasia.

We love her soooooo much! The girls ask for her all the time and even Syd still remembers her and says her name when prompted with a picture.

See you at Thanksgiving Staysh!! LOVE YOU!!

It's Rough Being Students

A tender mercy was delivered straight to my heart this afternoon.

Again, the Lord has shown me exactly how much he cares for me and my family. It's the end of the quarter, and bills are due. We were much too close this month and there was not nearly enough money in our checking account to go around. I have been praying for weeks to find a way to make ends meet. I started to squirm and freak out, and contemplate what to do. I had a feeling to pay my bills, and get on with it...not 30 minutes later I went to go count the cash I had on hand. (Big confession: I take out cash each quarter to set aside for the big insurance bills.) Somehow, I counted and counted ( I think I counted at least 4 times) and found there was too much. MUCH too much. It was what we needed. I don't know if I accidentally withdrew too much somewhere along the way, but my heart tells me it is a gift. I know my Father in Heaven is watching over us and taking care of us. I am so grateful for His hand in my life.

One Day 2 Birthdays

They changed my life for good. Love you girls!! Happy Birthday Grace and Sydney!

Uh-Oh!

On this day...

We were sealed for time and all eternity six years ago today.

I married my very best friend (isn't that obvious?).

I am so happy at the choice we made to be together forever. We have so much fun together. Even in our times of most trial and despair, we have never doubted each other's love. We say we are a great team (in fact we tag team quite a bit on the girls), and we are. I have only grown to more deeply and fully love my husband each day we have been together. Happy Anniversay!

**Photos courtesy of darbyelizabethphotography.com

Happy Birthday America

Next to Christmas, 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays (except I forget that fact until the day actually arrives. I really should do more planning).

Kristine and Kams (before Kams hates fireworks that make noise)

Pretty much the best babysitter EVER! (and this is the look she gives me after I pay her)

WE LOVE STASIA! I don't know what we are going to do without her!!

Babysitter-in-training? Karsten

S'more what?

this is what happens when your sister tries to "share" a s'more

What a good daddy!

Sweet Eden

jack and carly

Apparently Gracie can do the monkey bars, FOR REALS! ALL THE WAY ACROSS! That is HARD! (I tried it and sadly cannot make it across)

oh yum!

"helping" clean the pool

only in OR do you need a fire for warmth on July 4th! The high temp for the day? 66 degrees.

LOVED the celebrations. She would clap, as her sisters hid under the blankets (yep it really was cold) at the fireworks. What a fun weekend! Thanks friends for sharing it with us!

Where does she get it?

it must be from lance's side.

I have to share a story just for journaling sake. Last night we had Family Home Evening about Christ loving everyone, and being kind. We talked about how the girls could be kind to their friends, as well as each other, and they both were being stinker pots and not really listening and definitely NOT sitting anywhere near still. Today we went to a small play group and I couldn't believe what happened. Gracie went first to a boy (that she had troubles with the last time we went) and offered him her toy that she had brought from home, and said, "I thought you would like to play with my soccer ball and we could share." I was taken back at her kindness and made sure I reinforced the good behavior. Then Kami and a friend were fighting over a baby stroller. I suggested she take a turn and then let her friend take a turn and she said, "Ok, you're turn" and gave the baby stroller up without taking a turn! Then, it happened with a second friend and she gave the baby stroller up AGAIN! I can't believe how sweet they can be at times. I have the most wonderful little girls and I am so thankful I am their mother.

When it rains it POURS!

You know the feeling when you know something is going wrong because your kids are quiet? I had a quick little inspiration to check on Syd the other day and she had gotten into the canned food cabinet. She was covered in marshmallow, which was the least of my worries because she was also covered in glass! Thank goodness marshmallow creme is so thick and gooey. She had glass all over her hand, mouth, and legs, but was so coated she only had a small nick in her leg that bled.

So, I tossed her in the bath fully clothed and supervised by Grace. I know, totally responsible parent to have your 3 year old watch your 1 year old in the bath, but I had to get the glass off the floor so the two year old didn't play in it while everyone else was busy.

IF you happen to live in Portland and IF it happened to be a sunny day, we were not out. BUMMER for the short summer break!

I can only imagine a cool story to tell about how I got injured...cause the real one isn't that interesting. Basically, I missed going down a step at the movie theater and tried to catch Lance on my way down, and because I was reaching straight out with my left arm, I jarred my shoulder really good (So good, in fact that I wasn't able to move it the next day, AT ALL )! Went to the chiro clinic, and I was probably an intern's dream come true: a complex case, x-rays, and a "fun" diagnosis: HADD

"FUN" meaning that I couldn't use my arm, couldn't sleep, and had a rough time taking care of the girls. I couldn't lift them at all! I got all Kinesiotaped up (see below), got an arm sling, and went about my business healing.

Lucky for me, I had a wisdom tooth extraction scheduled for Monday. (The lucky part being I got pain meds, so I could sleep! YAY!!)

In the meantime, poor Sydney got 3 teeth, THREE!!!! (and two more should be making an entrance this weekend).

Also in the meantime, Kami had two nights where upon pure inspiration we checked on her when she was choking and had puked all over her bed. And then took a nasty spill when the lip of the counter she was leaning on gave way and she hit one side of her face on the way down, and the other side on the ground. One bruised cheek, and ear later....

Poor Lance, he spent his off-time of break taking care of me and the girls. I only wished we could have traveled and explored more of the city/state. But I am so happy the girls are happy and healthy, and even more happy that I have gained back almost all of my range of motion in about a week, thanks to a Priesthood blessing and having a good doc(s) around. Now, on to Quarter 11 (of 12) with the last of Lance's actual classes. One more quarter of full days, then half-days and the home stretch!!