A Sunday Drive

 On Sunday we packed up at picnic, and took a Sunday Drive.  I'm so glad Chris suggested it.  I didn't realize how much it would rejuvenate me.  I LOVE being outside.  Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall.  It doesn't matter when, I just love being outside.  We had a the most amazing Winter this year.  So much snow in our very own backyard.  We spent countless hours playing in the snow, but there is something about Summer too!  Truthfully, I can't imagine not having all of the seasons.  Isn't life amazing!!  

Chris actually wanted to check out some Campgrounds in American Fork Canyon.  He needed to see the spots to make sure we could fit our trailer in one, if we wanted to camp there sometime this summer.  Turns out, we won't be camping there.  Most of the spots are reserved, and the few that aren't, wouldn't be good for us.  But never mind, we had an amazing day anyhow.  

On our way up the Canyon, I spotted the coolest Vintage Car and Trailer!  I made Chris turn around, so I could see it closer up, and of course, I just HAD to take a picture!  Oh man, I am in LOVE :)

After scouting out the Campgrounds, we decided to have some lunch.  So we pulled out our picnic.  Chris had packed the whole thing.  So yummy indeed :)

We were in the group area.  So we decided to have a look around.  Oh, everything had that camping smell.  A little brook was right beside us.  We could smell people's campfires, and the TREES, oh the Trees.  I love the mountains in the summer time.  

The girls threw rocks in the brook.  We lazily walked around, watching the birds, and talking of camping days to come.  I can't wait to get out there!  There's nothing like a good camping trip to bring the spirits up, and get me excited about life.  Not that my spirits are down....I'm just sayin' :)  I'm not sure if I could live without our RV.  It's the best family time ever!  Time spent together, amazing places to explore, nature, sun, hotdogs and smores on the fire, pine trees, sleeping bags, and lots of fun!

A few pictures on our way home.  The end of the backside of Mt. Timpanogos. 

Beautiful!!  

My little family on a bridge near our lunch spot.  Every time we do anything now, I have this amazing feeling, because our whole family is going to enjoy it.  Our whole family is in these pictures.  I am still so amazed by Ruby, and the fact that our family is complete, and life feels a little bit different.  So good.  So complete.  Now lets go and enjoy :)

Elle, the Preschool Graduate

Today was Elle's Preschool Graduation. 

I couldn't believe how they went all out.  I signed up to take cookies for refreshments.  They had a little program, where the kids got to sing a few of their favorite songs, then they each walked across the cutest mini stage with a balloon arch, and receive their diploma.  They showed a slide show of pictures they had taken in classes with the kids doing various things.  And afterward, the kids sang a goodbye song.  We took pictures with the teachers, ate our refreshments, and they even had a couple of pictures they had taken of each child in a cap and gown to present to the parents. 

Grandma and Grandpa Belnap, Daddy, Bree, Ruby, and Mommy all came to watch Elle graduate.  She did an amazing job!  She really knows her stuff, and is ready for Kindergarten next year.

I LOVE this girl :)  She is amazing.  Way to go Elle!!  

An amazing place...

Sometimes being home everyday can get a little boring.  I mean, lets face it.  I am a social person.  And when you stay home with your kids, it can sometimes feel like your trapped in the same boring place, day after day, with no real amazing interactions.  

So then, I take a couple of pictures like these.....

The first is a panoramic of my backyard, after the first mow.  In the spring, before the leaves or blossoms had come back.  And the second, I took this morning.  Everything wet with rain, leaves everywhere, so much privacy.  Amazing fruit trees, shade trees, and my tomato garden planted.  

This my friends, is PARADISE!  

Truthfully, I LOVE being home with my children.  Getting to spend everyday with the tiny people that I love.  Watching them grow.  Getting to see all of their firsts.  I wouldn't trade it for anything!!  And when I get a little blue.  Because I am feeling bored, or a bit trapped.  I just look out the window, or venture out into Paradise.  My own little Garden of Eden.  And I am reminded of how truly blessed I am to get to spend time, and live in such an amazing place, every.. single.. day..  :)

Slip n' Slide

The weather has been unusually HOT this week.  I think Spring slipped on by and Summer showed up instead.  School isn't even out for another 3 weeks, and the girls have been asking to swim in the backyard.  Well, I told them it was too cold to get out the pool, so we compromised.  The other day after Bree got home from school, we let them get out the Slip n' Slide.  Lets just say..... they had a great time!  I'm a bit excited for summer myself!    

Mothers Day 2013

Happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mothers out there!

Yesterday we got to spend Mother's Day with a lot of Family.  My nephew was being blessed and we went.  It was a really fun day.  Good food.  Excellent company too!  I loved it.

Chris and the girls took me to the Nursery the day before.  We got some new top soil and cleaned out one of my planter boxes and started over.  We put down some new weed barrier, the new soil, and mixed some yummy plant food in there too.  I also bought some tomato plants.  I have 5 different kinds of tomatoes planted!  This was my Mothers Day Present.  I really wanted my garden this year, because I didn't do one last year, being pregnant, and I really missed it!  I'm really excited to do some bottling this year.  Tomatoes and grape jelly :)

I have never been happier about being a Mom!  Knowing that all of my little ones are finally here is exciting.  A good feeling.  No, a GREAT feeling!  I'm so glad we didn't give up on having Ruby.  I don't know what we would do without her.  Everyone in this family just adores her!  She is NOT lacking for attention.  I love being a Mom to these three wonderful beauties!  And I am so glad that Heavenly Father has sent these three amazing little people to me :)    

Happy Mother's Day 2013! 

My baby. Me. In the backyard...

This morning, while the older girls were at school, I thought it would be fun for Ruby and I to practice her sitting up.  She still can't quite do it on her own.  She can balance for a few to 10 seconds, and then she slowly tips over.  It's so cute!  

And since my living room is kind of boring, and there are so many beautiful things in bloom out in the backyard, we decided to take our blanket outside and practice there.  

Ruby is SO close to rolling over too.  I just can't get enough of this beautiful baby!!  

7 months old...

This one really makes me smile.  My tiny girl standing on those tiny legs :)

Kindergarten Round Up

Today was Kindergarten Round Up for Elle.  We went to the Elementary School, and made sure she was all registered, and the paperwork was done.  Then they gave her a name tag and we went off to explore.  We went into our favorite Kindergarten room, Mrs. Hardy's.  Bree had Mrs. Hardy, and we've requested her for Elle.  She is the most amazing teacher EVER!!  I love chatting with her every time we're at a school event.  She gave Bree a big hug, and welcomed us in.  Elle met a new friend and they played with toys, we saw the desks, names, boards, alphabet carpet, etc... Elle even drew Mrs. Hardy a rainbow on her whiteboard.  And when it was time to go, Elle received some popcorn, a drink, and the cutest coloring book, crayons, and special colored pencil.  She was in heaven.  If she wasn't excited before, which she was, she is excited now.  She doesn't understand time at all.  So everything in her world happens yesterday, or today, or tomorrow.  It is very hard to explain to her that Kindergarten will begin in about 4 months.  

This girl really has my heart.  She has a super hilarious personality.  The softest skin on the planet.  It's so fun to kiss Elle's cheeks.  She got that soft skin from my mom and her grandpa Perkins.  And she says the funniest things!  I wish I had written down all of the wonderful things this girl has said.  One day we were diving in the car, and I had forgotten something, so I turned down and unfamiliar road so I could turn around and go back.  Bree said, "Mom, what is this road called, and Elle said, "It's called a short cut".  I busted up laughing.  And Elle wouldn't be Elle without her naturally curly hair.  She can write all of her numbers and letters.  She can count quite high.  And she even writes some small words.  All of which she has learned this year in her pre-school class.  She is amazingly smart.  She loves all of the colors, I'm not even sure if she has a favorite.  But she loves to color with Black crayons.  She loves wearing her red cow girl boots.  She is kind of a messy eater.  She pulls all of her sandwiches apart and eats the bread and the insides separately.  She LOVES to sing and dance, and make music.  She is always drumming, or making music with all of her toys, or turning things into instruments.  Elle is tall for her age.  I think she'll definitely outgrow me.  (won't that be weird).  Elle absolutely loves her little baby sister Ruby.  She can't keep her hands off of Ruby, and she smothers her with millions of kisses.  Elle loves playing with her sister Bree.  They are pretty much best friends.  I love that they have each other.  Elle hasn't put her face under water yet.  Not even in the tub.  We seriously need to get her into some swimming lessons.  She always wants to invite all of her pre-school friends to come over to our house to play.  And she gets mad at me when I tell her that it's not possible.  Elle loves camping in our trailer and she loves riding the snowmobiles and 4 wheelers.  She would ride for hours with Daddy if we let her.  Elle loves to snuggle with me.  She would sit with me and lay on me all day if she could.  She loves to get her back scratched.  I can always count on some good loving from Elle.  That is why we nick named her our Love Bug.  Elle sometimes talks in baby talk, and I have to remind her to use a big girl voice.  Sometimes I think she likes to pretend that she is still the baby.  She doesn't like to get her hair combed.  She hates tangles.  She will dance around and dance around, because she has to go to the bathroom, but won't go until you force her too, or until she just can't hold it any longer.  Elle's favorite foods are Craft Macaroni and Cheese, Cheese Omlets, toast with our homemade grape Jelly, and any kind of Ice Cream or Popsicle she can get her hands on.  Her favorite toys are her Lalaloopsy Mini Dolls.  She loves to put the mermaid ones in the tub with her.  She sleeps with her baby blanket and her Tigger.  And right now, she is still sleeping in a pull up.  She chews on her toenails, and says that she does it, so I won't have to trim them.  And she does like to hit.  Mostly Mommy and Bree.  Something we are working on.  But mostly, she is sweet.  She does't do well, when yelled at.  But if you talk to her calmly, with care in your voice, you can really get through to her.  She doesn't like to be in trouble.  I hope by writing all of this, we can look back and remember all of the fun things about Elle when she was 5 years old.      

I am so excited for Elle to enter Kindergarten!  She is bored sometimes at home with Mommy, and really needs that daily brain stretch.  She is ready to learn.  I love you Elle.  You are going to love school.