Mother's Day

I really wanted to make a post for Mother's Day. I have an amazing mom! She always sacrificed for us and growing up she rarely got new clothes or things like that because all of us kids always needed something. She is one of the most crafty people that I have ever met. Everything she does looks cute. And she always has served faithfully in the church. She is now serving a full time mission with my dad in New York! She has always been such a great example to me and I will be forever grateful for that. I was pretty bummed when we found out that we were moving back to Washington and she was going to be gone. I love her and miss her and can't wait for them to get back, but I am so proud of them.

Then there is my mother in law, Sheila. I couldn't have asked for a better mother in law than her. She has taught me so much over the last 7 years. I have missed living by her over the last 7 months. She was always so willing to help me with anything that I needed. She is such a great example to me in making lemonade out of lemons :) Life has not always been easy for her, but she has never wavered in the things that she knew to be true and what life was all about. I love her dearly and miss her. I'm so thankful for the way that she raised her son so he could be my husband.

Then there are my own sweet children and the fact that I am a mom. Sometimes it's hard to believe that Heavenly Father has entrusted them to me. They are what make my gloomy days happy and how and why I get through the hard stuff of life. They truly are my reason for everything that I do.

McKenna is my saving grace. She is such an amazing helper for me. She is always doing things for me that she knows will help me out even before I ask her. And she is always the first to run and give me a hug and a kiss and make sure I'm ok when she thinks I look even a little bit sad.

Madison is the life of the party in our house. She is so funny and has a great personality. She is such a teaser just like her dad. If she thinks she can play a joke on you she will so watch out! She is my buddy during the day while McKenna is at school. We have so much fun together just hanging out.

Then there is my Megan. She is truly and angel walking on earth just for me. She is always giving me kisses and I love them no matter how much slobber comes with them! She is a ray of sunshine on the cloudiest of days. She has the best little spirit about her and you can't help but be happy when she is near.

I love my girls so much and am so grateful to have the privelage of being their mom. I hope that they feel the same way about having me for a mom. I know I am not a perfect mom or the best mom, but I try my best and I love being a mom.

Photos of my girls done by Angie Penrose

Comings and Goings

It has been quite a while since my presence graced this poor neglected blog. I always want to sit down and write, but life tends to get in my way, alot. Oh well. McKenna finished up soccer and she found a new love. Soccer I mean. She absolutely loved it. Unfortunately for us that means many years of sitting in the rain watching her play. But I'm glad she found something that she loves to do.

Then we got to go down to Idaho for Easter and a new nephew's baby blessing. It was great to go see family that we have missed since moving to Washington. The girls absolutely loved being around their grandparents and cousins. They got to dye easter eggs and then have the big hunt!

And now for the random picture of the post. One night I had put McKenna and Madison in the bath and Megan had already been bathed not too long ago so I didn't think that she needed to get in but appearently she had a different idea. I heard a few squeals and ran into the bathroom to see what had happened and Megan had crawled in clothes and all. So we know now that if she doesn't want to be left out of anything. Silly girl.

Dancing in the Rain...

"Those who think only sunshine brings happiness have never danced in the rain."

The other day (well alot of days) it was raining pretty good outside. I'm not sure the phrase raining cats and dogs really quite does it justice. More like raining boats and houses. McKenna had a homework assignment to tally the colors of cars on the street. So they all got on their rain coats and headed outside. Once they finished the project they decided that they needed to stay out and play a while.

When it's not raining one of our favorite things to do is put the girls in the stroller and head out for walks. They both love being outside.

When I get orders of Scentsy that come to my house they pack them with big rolls of paper. So from the last order we got we put the paper to good use. We traced around the girls and then they colored the rest :) They thought that was pretty fun.

Then the other day I was trying to find them and here is where I found them all...sitting under the piano just hanging out together. I thought it was pretty stinkin cute. They crack me up. I love when they are just getting along and having fun together. I'm glad they have each other that's for sure!

Random Happenings

There has been quite a bit going on around here lately. Well at least it always seems that way and then I try to remember what it is that makes me so busy and I can't think of what I even did that day. I guess that is just life. Well a couple of weeks ago it was McKenna's birthday. Since we had a big ol' shin dig in Idaho for her birthday we kept it short and sweet up here. She got to invite two people over and to go roller skating. So she invited her to fun cousins that are her age up here. Riley and Sammy. They came over for some ice cream cake and then opened presents. Then it was off to roller skate. I can't believe I didn't get a single picture at the roller skating rink, but I was too busy trying to keep everyone on their feet. haha. It was fun though.

McKenna had her first soccer game that weekend also. And in true Washington fashion it was POURING down rain. But the kids still had fun.

My Maddie just loves her Littlest Pet Shops and so when I went into her bedroom this morning and found her LPS snail sleeping on a bed next to her I couldn't help but take a picture.

Last week we switched the two bedrooms around and put all three girls in one room so that we could make the other bedroom a play room. It has worked out soooo much better. So now the girls have somewhere that they can go to play and then their room stays nice and clean. And they have more room to play. And they can stay out of my hair sometimes because they have the space to do so. They love to just go in there and play away.

Megan loves to put this binky in her mouth upside down. It is so funny and she doesn't let you switch it to the right way either.

Of course once Madison saw me get the camera out she started posing.

Megan loves to push cars around. It doesn't matter what kind of car it is she just likes to push them around the floor.

Madison wouldn't let me get away without throwing a silly face in there!

And my little Megan is not so little anymore....(sniff). She is such a big girl these days standing up and taking steps here and there. She can walk across a room but then she just plops on her bum and starts crawling. I guess she thinks that is easier. But I am so sad that she is not a little baby anymore. But she has such a fun personality that I guess it's ok. So that's what's going on in our neck of the woods!

A serious update :)

Once again it has been way too long since I have taken the time to update my blog. Between McKenna's school, Maddie's playdates, Megan's needs and everything else that running a house entails, the time that I get to sit at the computer and blog is few and far between. But I am determined to keep this poor blog going. I always say "someday" my blog is going to be one that people will want to read like so many other amazing blogging moms. But who know when someday will be so you will have to settle for the posts I get in inbetween life's other moments.

Let me go all the way back to Valentine's Day. The night before McKenna and I made these super cute Valentines for her class party the next day. It was fun having her go through her class list and tell me about each classmate.

Then the next day we went and helped with her class party. That is always and adventure let me tell ya. But it is always great to be able to go into the class and see all the kids she is always talking about.

Megan thought she was pretty special to be able to go and play with all the fun things in McKenna's classroom.

Then that evening I made a candlelight dinner for the whole family instead of just Travis and I going out and doing something. I would like to say that this was intentional and not due to a lack of babysitter. So we will just say that. :) But it was pretty fun and the girls sure liked it. Madison couldn't figure out who's birthday it was and if it was no one's then why did we have candles.

Of course McKenna had to put name tags where everyone was supposed to sit. That girl can't do anything without having name tags. haha

Then the next week me and the girls hit the open road and drove to Idaho. I had to go back to meet with our accountant from all of our company stuff from this last year.

I love Megan's chocolate face in this picture! haha I wonder what they were eating?


While we were there I planned a surprise birthday party for McKenna with all her little friends from Idaho. It was so much fun for her to be able to get to play with all these girls who she loves and misses.

Then the night before we left we had a fun little hot dog roast out at Grandma & Grandpa Hillman's. The girls had to put name tags on everyone's chair again. Madison the whole time kept talking about roasting hot dogs at grandmas so we couldn't leave Idaho without doing that.



I love this little girl who always has to be wearing a hood.

And since we have returned McKenna has gotten to start soccer. She was a little nervouse to start but she did great right out of the gate.

It made it even easier when she found out that her little buddies from her class, Jake and David, were on her team as well. So that's what we have been up to for the last few weeks! Hopefully you will get another update sooner than later.