Finished

The kitchen is finished!  Hurray!  Okay, so we have a few last touches, but the kitchen is now fully functional!  Let's hear it again for my handy dandy husband!

The before pic (taken back in March before we made any changes):

 And what it looks like today (after moving the desk, installing replacement cabinets, new granite, new faucet, new backsplash):

Aaaahhh, MUCH better.

And, I also had to share these fun photos:

 Apparently, sidewalk chalk also works very well as face paint.

Crazy

This week has been crazy busy.  I'm feeling the need to put my kitchen back together, you know, after living with it in a disrupted state for over a month now.  This week we tackled the backsplash and if Nick didn't have to work for a living, we'd be done by now.  ;)  We've made good progress though:

This weekend's agenda:  grout, seal, re-install the microwave, and put the electrical sockets back together.  Almost there!

Besides tiling (and I want you to know that I did help), we've also spotlighted Maren at her preschool, picked up a quarter of a beef and restocked our freezer, Nick had Pack Meeting to prepare and present (he's the new Cub Master, lucky guy), weeded one of our garden beds, and Nick prepared and presented a Pruning/Gardening class for our Relief Society. All of that, plus the normal 'my kids make a mess and I clean it up', picking up and dropping off, shopping and errands.  It has been a full and tiring week.

And speaking of "crazy":

It's Crazy Hair Day at school today.  Nick is the mastermind here.  He did this same hairstyle last year while I was in the hospital with Lainey (it was crazy hair day, and not just a bad hair day ;) and Ellie requested he do the same this year.

A Moment

 I came downstairs the other day to find this:

Maren had made a "school" and was "reading" to Everett and a collection of stuffed animals.  It was really cute.

 These are the moments that make all the whining, picking up toys and breaking up fights worth it.

 (Alicia, does Lainey not look a little like your A in that photo?)

When I started having babies, wiping bums, cleaning up toddler messes and getting swept up with the everyday life of a mother with small children, I just kind of always had the mindset that this would last forever.  Now, of course I'm a smart person and knew it really wouldn't, but when you're in the thick of it, it just seems like it will.  Lately, I've had wake-up moments (like when Ellie makes her lunch all by herself before I even get out of bed, or Maren can reach the sink without a stool) where I realize that this time with small children really is only a smidgen of time.  A tiny moment.  It's not fair really, those years between 0 and 5 go by way too quickly.  Perhaps that's why I'm happy about another baby on the way.  I'm not ready to move on to the next phase in life:  "Mother of big kids in school".  Perhaps I'll have 10 kids, just so I can extend that time that I have a toddler to snuggle, or a preschooler to climb up in my lap with a book (I jest, by the way, I'm pretty sure I'd fall apart, mentally and physically, before I got to 10).  I tear up as I type this, it makes me so sad that someday it won't be there.  I know there are other things to look forward to - no diaper bags (no diapers!), playing games as a family without someone stealing and eating the pieces, kids getting themselves in and out of the car, really I could go on and on.  But the whole point of this is, I'm living in the moment.  I want to enjoy this time where my kids are little because it is so fleeting.  It's hard, I'm not going to lie.  There are moments (lots of them) where I just want a few minutes to myself where someone is not climbing my leg or asking for something.  Sometimes, I just want to sit and do nothing.  Somedays I want to pack my bags and go running to the hills, I'm that close to going completely insane.  But then my kids give me that big grin.  They give me love and cuddles even though I just yelled at them.  Those eyes suck me in.  And I am once again reminded how fast they grow.  So, I sit on the floor and let them crawl all over me.  I really am so grateful to be right where I am.  That was a lot of rambling.  Congrats to you if you made it through.

Oh, and Lainey has this mother business all figured out.  She's mopping the floor with a baby on her hip, and looking fashionable all at the same time.  And with only one sock.

By the way, my Lou is quite the charmer (we knew this already).  She had her 18 month check and the doctor was just mesmerized by her.  He said that she was his favorite 18 month old and that he could hang out with her all day.  That is my lucky job, by the way.  She is 22.5 lbs (48%) and 30.5 inches (17%).

Granite

Last week we got our granite installed.  Hurray!  We had two evenings to get out all the old countertops and prepare for the new.  It was a few late nights, but all jobs that require a jackhammer are fun, right?

 We made our mark:

Being without water in the kitchen for two days was not very much fun (although honestly, I enjoyed having the excuse that I could not do dishes).

 After demolition, all ready for granite: 

 And after the granite was installed:

 It took me all of about 5.3 seconds to clutter up the counters.

Oh, hurray for solid stone counters once again!  We still have work to do.  We'll be doing a new backsplash now, hopefully in the coming week.  

And off topic, a cute photo of my girls:

And, I've been meaning to do this for awhile now.  These phone pics date all the way back to Everett's birthday in February (hence the Happy Meal).  Enjoy. 

Getting Away

My mom always got the itch to get out of town at least a few times a year.  She would load us up and head out, sometimes my Dad would come with, and sometimes he'd stay behind to do farm work.  I have many great memories because of this.  So thank you, mom.  Anyway, I must have inherited this from her, because I certainly get the itch.  We try to go somewhere fun as a family at least once a year for vacation and with a new baby coming this summer, we knew it was very unlikely we would be going anywhere in those months, so we decided to make our family trip over Spring Break this year.  We had to go towards warmer weather, so we went to St. George and had a grand time.  I won't do a day by day, but here are some highlights:

We explored the Red Hills:

 My little monkeys loved to climb.

 We were sure to spend lots of time at the pool:

 By the end, we had convinced Ellie that she would, in fact, survive without a lifejacket.  And what do you know, she did!  ;)

We spent several hours enjoying beautiful Zion's park:

Lainey was tired.  And can you tell we are serious hikers with our fancy umbrella stroller?  It worked just fine.

 Our kids were troopers, hiking for a total of 2.6 miles.

Our family at Weeping Rock:

 Our kids were hammered, and fell asleep almost the instant they sat down on the shuttle bus:

 And do you remember this from 3 years ago (particularly the part where we got stuck in the sand)?  Well, I was not to be bested.  We tried once again to get to those dinosaur tracks, and guess what?  We made it!  We are conquerors!  This time around we drove the long way in, the way where there are only small patches of sand across the dirt road and not big sand bars.  I remember going here with my family when I was in my early teen years, and I'm glad we made it back.  It was cool to see dinosaur tracks out in nature, right where the dinosaurs put it themselves. 

Ellie showing a small dinosaur track:

 Did you notice the big track that Maren is standing next to?  It's about twice the length of her foot.

If I ever have to live in a desert, I hope it's the red desert of Southern Utah.  It's beautiful.

 Our kids loved being at a hotel.  In fact, when we drove into our neighborhood, Everett started crying, "I want to go back to the hotel!"

 Lainey loved her port-a-crib.  Seriously, she cried and threw a little fit when I took it down.  She'd hang out in there for bits of time.  I think she liked having a little place all her own.

 After four days of playing so hard, the kids were plain tuckered.

On the way home, we stopped to explore Silver Reef, a ghost town.  Notice the big, new homes in the background?  I guess it's not really a ghost town anymore.

 My kids would play in the sand/dirt/gravel every opportunity they got.

 And one more stop at Cove Fort:

 On Saturday, I had myself a full on "I don't want to come back to real life" depressing day.  I'm over it now, but it's just so nice to be away from home, with my favorite people, with no distractions.  It was perfect.

By the way, if you are ever heading that way, do yourself a favor and stop here.  They have the most delicious sandwiches I've ever tasted.  They go all out with quality ingredients, several of which are homemade (like the raspberry jalapeno jam we ate on our Count of Fonty Cristo - so yummy).  Really, you'll be thanking me.

Easter Weekend

This last week has just been awesome, and I have a lot to post.  We'll start with Easter.

On Saturday, we went to my mom's Easter Party.  My kids have been looking forward to this for a very long time and were not dissappointed.

The kids hunted for eggs:

 I know, you are diggin' those pigtails, aren't you?  I can't get over them myself.

 Lainey quickly got the hang of this business, and walked around the yard pointing out all the eggs.

 We ate yummy food (that goes without saying) and enjoyed being together.  The kids dyed eggs with their cousins:

Sunday morning the kids found their Easter treasures and got all spiffed up for church:

 Nick and I laughed at that photo for at least 3 minutes.

 My kids were not in the mood for a photo, but this one still makes me smile.

Next up?  Another round of candy at Nick's parent's: 

 I know, you want to take her home, huh?  She's as sweet as she looks.

We had a great Easter weekend.  I am so grateful for the traditions that bring our families together.  And, I am so grateful for the knowledge I have of my Savior, who made it possible for me to be with these beautiful people forever.