Mommy Time

Last night was just weird. I fell asleep at 8:30pm and when I turned over for the first time in the "middle of the night", it was 11:30pm, which is the time I usually go to sleep. I then ended up wide awake at 4am but forced myself to go back to sleep until 7am.
Also, to add to the weirdness, I had a dream that I had accidentally made the Olympic gymnastics team. The accident was that I did super awesome in try outs but when it came to the Olympics, I realized I didn't even know how to tumble. I kept apologizing to Makayla Maroney (not kidding...) and telling her I didn't mean to make myself a part of their team. It was an accident!
I know, I know, you don't care about my sleeping habits. But it was just so weird. And funny. But mostly weird.

Anyway, we had the greatest weekend. I hope yours was amazing as well but if not, you can enjoy the photos from mine.

Boss is kind of really amazing and offered to take the kids for 4 hours instead of the normal 2 he takes them every Saturday, while I do whatever I want {within reason}.

So I took off and ended up here...

 On a dirt road, somewhere East of where we live. It was beautiful and cold. I took a notebook and just had time to reflect on my life and how wonderful it is.

 After that and a trip to Bed, Bath, and Beyond, I came home to a delicious meal of parmesan chicken. Boss says the kids made almost everything for the meal, he just cooked it all. I was really impressed! It was such a wonderful morning and it made me so grateful for this wonderful husband/father in our lives.
After that, we all hung out on the couch and for some reason, my camera was out taking pictures of our craziness.
Every time I would take a picture, Spidey would ask to look at it and then want to take another one. He is so funny.

Boss left for a while to go work on his truck at a friend's house and I surprised him by actually cooking dinner. That's only slightly sarcastic...I don't cook often enough.

Just look at this picture of the tortilla soup I made is making me want to have it again! It was one of the most delicious meals I've made. It tastes so similiar to the tortilla soup I grew up with! If you'd like the recipe, here it is. It was amazing. The only change I'm going to make next time I cook it is not adding any serrano peppers (it was too spicy for my kids) and not marinating the chicken in lime juice ahead of time. I like lime...but not that much. Other than that, this recipe was perfect!

Hope everyone has a fabulous week! I plan to be more productive and grateful this week. There really is always something good in life to look forward to.

I can do hard things

 I always thought I was a patient person when Petey was a little girl. She hardly ever got into trouble and when she did, I felt like I could keep my cool easier. I don't know if the hardships we've faced this past year have made a difference but I've found myself with less patience as these two munchkins have grown. I feel like a completely different person than the mother Petey had as a small toddler. So many things have changed since then, some good and some bad.

I've learned that the OCD my mom's side of the family passed on to me isn't always as funny as it used to be. I've learned that I like to be in control...and I prefer that all of the time. I've also learned that I'm hardly ever in control and that I have to get used to that. I've learned that my children need a mom who sits on the floor and plays Candyland and Chutes and Ladders. I've learned that dance parties and "freeze dance" are two of the most fun things to do with young children. I've learned that God's timing is more important than mine.

Most importantly, I've learned that I can do hard things.

A year ago, I wouldn't have imagined being strong enough to handle a year like last year but now that it's over and a new year has begun, I know I can handle anything.

And while I'm out handling this incredible life God has blessed me with, I know there are 3 people that I can always count on to lift me up.

Because pretending to be a horsy and dancing around til we're all out of breath has turned out to be the best medicine for trials. I'm lucky to have people who keep me sane when I'm just plain outta my mind. Or maybe they're just crazy with me...

Short and Sweet

I find it absolutely, positively comforting to know that this man is mine forever. I realize that not very many things matter in the world besides this fact. Sometimes it frustrates me that there are people that I will probably never get along with that well. I really have a hard time knowing there are people out there who think I'm annoying or even mean. But it is so nice to know that this man is always by my side, no matter who likes me or doesn't.

He will always like me.

 

 

The End.

New Years at the Cabin

 This past Monday, the kiddos and I headed up to my parents' cabin to spend New Years with everyone. Unfortunatly, Boss worked Monday so we missed having him there but it was still a fun day.

We headed out at 6am to make it in time for breakfast with everyone which ended up being a bad idea. As soon as I started driving through the mountains, we hit a thick patch of fog AND it started snowing really hard. My sisters claim that it's too dramatic to call what I drove through a blizzard so we decided the better word is vortex. The snow was coming right at my windshield and we ended up driving 25 mph through the mountains because nothing was plowed and the roads were covered in snow. SCARY!!!

But as you can tell from the fact that I am here writing this story, we lived through this event and made it in time for breakfast.

The kids were really excited to see their cousins and even though this picture has horrible quality, I had to add it. They all rode around on that fire truck throughout the day and loved it.

After breakfast, the plan was to head up to the rim to play in the snow but since it had snowed more than I've ever seen at the cabin, we decided the kids would have just as much fun playing outside around the cabin.

 Spidey was enthralled with the "no", which on an unrelated note made us all realize he has a hard time pronouncing "s" if a consonant is the next letter in the word.
For example: snow "no", scared "cared", stop "top", spot "pot".
The funniest part is that my child who is OBSESSED with tattling right now was running around the house saying, "Sammy is throwing 'no' balls at the house!!!" We were all laughing since it sounded like he was saying there were NO balls being thrown which is ironic since that would be a good thing.

 Can you tell he was happy?

 Uncle Chris' son kept throwing 'no'balls at him so finally, Chris tackled him to the ground in the snow. Of course, Spidey loved that.

 Petey came out in mismatched gloves and 'no'boots that actually fit me but that's what happens when you only go see the snow once or twice a year.

 Isn't her sweater the cutest? I was pretty proud. I found it at Dillards last week. It was originally $50 but I bought it for $15.

 Spidey likes to explore and got stuck down a small hill so Uncle Chris helped him climb back up.

 There's Uncle Chris' son at it again. He loved throwing 'no'balls at everyone.

 Uncle Jp made a little sledding pathway for the kids and they had a blast with it.

 Petey learned that snow is ice and it tastes good.

 One of the uncles had to be at the end of the tiny hill when the kids were sledding so they didn't run into the trees.

 Jp made the kids' day by grabbing the sled rope and running around the yard really fast.

 Here is a video of him running around with them.


That video also introduces the next two pictures...

Petey learned that it is just easier to lick the snow right off the ground.

So naturally, she taught George to do the same thing...

Wilbur Force got in on the sledding action.

Uncle Chris' oldest son tried out the sled as well.

And so did Aunt Candace. She loved it.

After a while, Petey was ready to be done and begged to go inside and warm up. Can you see the pain in her smile? Sh was freezing! It was probably all of that snow she ate.

Spidey ventured out behind the house to find more snow. I had a hard time following him back there because my feet kept sinking.

Then we brought everyone inside to warm up, drink hot chocolate and watch a movie.

Of course, this is where Candace stayed most of the day.

Bug was all smiles for me that afternoon.

George had fun trying to get him to smile.

I can hardly stand how cute that kid is.

Sorry, Andrea, you said this picture was hot so I added it just for you.

This is what the rest of the room looked like as I was taking pictures of Bugsy.

The two besties.

Bugsy fell asleep on his moms legs. Even sleeping he is adorable!

 Mini G, all wrapped up and warm.

 

The next day, we were ready to leave and since it had snowed again, my car was "covered".

Yes, if you live in the snow, this isn't "covered" but it was more than I've ever seen. It was also the first time I've had to brush/scrape snow off of my car to be able to drive.

There were icicles under my car.

I learned the hard way that when scraping snow off of your car with a broom, make sure NOT to hit a tree branch right above you. Snow will dump all over you...

I got to spend some time with Mini G while her parents packed up their car to leave also.

Since the kids didn't stay up to ring in the new year with us, they loved wearing the hats and tiaras the next morning.

It was a great new years and I am so grateful to my family for putting up with me and my wild children.

2013: Faith

 In 2011, I had a view of where my life would be.

That view was this picture plus one more little one on the way.

That view wasn't a reality.

So I just knew 2012 was going to be the year that view changed to reality. 

Well, hi there, 2013. Where did you come from?

Even though that view is still just a far-away-and possibly-not-going-to-happen view, I am beyond excited for 2013.

And even more than the excitement of 2013, I am grateful for the year 2012.

It is the year:
-Petey learned how to ride a big girl bike.
-Spidey REFUSED to ride the big boy bike or 3 wheeled scooter he got for birthdays/Christmas.
-Boss got a new job and decided on a different career path.
-Petey learned how to write her name.
-I got a gym membership and lost 15 pounds, gained it back, then lost 10 again. (Story of my awesome life)
-My kids met their favorite doggy friend, Paco, and then said goodbye to him later in the year.
-Baby Ellie was born.
-Boss' brother married a wonderful girl.
-Boss shaved Spidey's head.
-Petey cut her own hair.
-We went to Legoland.
-I was called to be in the Relief Society presidency.
-I followed through with my resolutions and organized my house mroe than ever {though it's current condition doesn't show that}.
-My kids were on the cover of a magazine.
-I learned how to cook more than one meal that my husband approves of.
-Boss was in his friend's wedding and looked dashing in his tux.
-Petey turned FOUR.
-Spidey turned THREE.
-I turned TWENTY FIVE.
-Boss turned TWENTY SEVEN.
-We got a zoo membership that we use almost every week.
-Petey learned how to swim.
-Spidey learned how to recognize his ABC's.
-Petey started dance class.
-Spidey learned how to poop paint.
-Spidey managed to need dermabond (strong glue to seal deep cuts) for two different injuries.
-I learned how to french braid.
-We painted and redecorated 3 rooms in our house.
-Bugsy was born.
-A week later, Mini G was born.
-Two of Boss' brothers got engaged.
-We bought a new van.
-Spidey realized his love for The Avengers.
-Petey realized her love for Hello Kitty.
-Petey learned how to do a perfect bridge.
-My sisters and I sang the National Anthem at an ASU game.

So as you can see, 2012 was a great year. Our family has grown so much by the trials and miracles that have been placed in our lives. I truly am thankful for this past year and wouldn't trade the memories we've made for anything.

2013 is going to be a year of good change for our family. Whether our family grows in size or grows in knowledge alone, we look forward to everything 2013 brings us.

My word for 2013 is faith.

Most specifically, faith in His plan for us. Whatever God has in store for us, I hope to be ready for.

I don't have a long list of goals for this year because having faith in God's timing is the most important thing right now. The only goal I am adding to my list is to attend the temple once a month in 2013. I made that goal in 2012 and even though I only remembered to go 7 of the months, it changed my life so much. If I am going to continue having faith in God, I know temple attendance needs to be a priority in my life.

I hope each of you recognizes the blessings you received in 2012 and look forward to what God will bring you in 2013. I know He has a plan for everyone.

And that's how Suze sees it.