Aunt Sarah's visit

My sister Sarah came to visit for a week and we had such a great time. She was so helpful with the kids and they loved being spoiled by their aunt. Here are a few photos of our week together.

Volunteering at Feed My Starving Children--what a great experience!

We dry pack meals for children all over the world who are in need of food and prepare it for shipment. 

The day we volunteered the food was going to Haiti. 

 Sarah played countless games of Candyland, Zooreka and Ticket to Ride with the kids (especially Grant during the day--that kid could play games non-stop and love it).

They would laugh so hard I couldn't believe it was Candyland they were playing--just having a good time together. (sorry for the blurry cell phone picture)

 Checking out the Mall of America

 Sarah painted Miya's nails, straightened Shayla's hair and helped me dye mine. No more gray--hoorah!!!

 Buying treats at K'nokes--the best local candy/ice cream shop around!

 Miya wasted no time on her candy necklace.

 Grant is LOVING soccer!

 So is Garrett. (Shayla, too, but I didn't get a picture)

 Hiking to Willow River Waterfall

 Eating fried cheese curds from Culver's--mouth-watering good

 Ultrasound!! It was so fun to have Sarah there. Dr. S was amazing and did great with our crew of 8. Sarah, Tyler and Miya correctly predicted a girl, winning candy bars as their prize.

I can't believe we are having a girl--i was so sure it was a boy!

At the St. Paul Cathedral--it feels like it's right out of Europe.

 The view from the top of the Capitol Building in St. Paul

We also explored the Science Museum and had lots of good time to catch up and talk.

Thanks for coming out to visit, Sarah! We can't wait for your next visit.

Thoughts on Motherhood...

Happy Belated Mother's Day! 

The other day Grant and Miya were playing family with a friend, Kelsey.  Every minute or two they would run into the room and say, "Today is my birthday-now I'm 5!" and a few moments later, "Today is my birthday--now I'm 6!!!" This game continued for quite some time until Kelsey was 14, Grant was 12 and Miya was 10.  I laughed at their fun celebrations of the best days of family life and couldn't help thinking that that was about how fast real life seemed to be going. 

I think my greatest challenge is to appreciate each day, each moment and cherish it, make a mental snapshot of my kids each day. They are so precious and unique and each day is filled with moments to treasure. The challenge is sifting through all the not-so-cherishable moments of fights, tantrums, messes and exhaustion and holding tight to the hugs and the smiles and the fun. I love watching my kids play together in the backyard--the other night Ty was the coach, giving a motivational pep talk to the other kids as he practiced kicking goals at them. Shayla was the lead goalie, with Garrett and Grant backing her up, as Miya ran around the yard picking grass, leaves, and rocks to make "soup." It was such a sweet moment that I tucked it away in my heart to keep forever.

Mother's Day was such a special day--I'm so grateful for my Mom and Mother-in-law, and all the women in my life who teach me so much through their examples. 

I'm so thankful for Tyler and his constant love and support, and for each of my wonderful kids. They spoiled me all day long--starting with breakfast in bed and ending with a delicious dinner and wonderful homemade cards with sweet messages. It was a wonderful day!

I love this picture--Grant's face makes me laugh, and Garrett had a bloody nose.

A little slice of real life.

And we had our ultrasound and found out that we are having a GIRL!!!

Due Sept. 27th, 2012.

We are thrilled and feel so blessed.

Where's Waldo?

 We have a lovely decorative shelf by our front entry that mysteriously ends up collecting the kids' toys and balls. How do they get up there? No one seems to know...

Can you find the 2 dogs hiding in this picture?

Funny Friday

Now that is funny!

soccer season

We are being so blessed--3 kids in soccer and only 2 nights at the soccer field a week. 

Now that is good karma.

 Grant was so excited and nervous for his very first night of soccer. 

It was so fun to watch him run around kicking the ball.

He even volunteered to be the "Goofy Says" caller.

Afterwards he said, "I thought it was going to be a lot harder, that they'd make us do drills and stuff. Instead we just played games."

me: "Yeah, but you are still learning playing the games."

Grant: (incredulously) "I am??!! That is amazing!"

 Miya loved sitting in her little chair and running around picking dandelions 

 Garrett loved it, too. Go red team!

Shayla and her best friend Lauren--what a crazy pair!

They are on the traveling team--first game on Thursday.

And Ty was running all over the field with his buddies playing lacrosse, football and soccer, so I didn't get a photo of him :) 

Miya--needing to go potty but wanting to pick dandelions instead :) 

I'm back...maybe

Well, I couldn't sleep this morning, so here I am at 5:30 feeling guilty about neglecting my blog. Or shall I say sorely neglecting my blog. It seems that the more I have to blog about, the less I do because things are so busy.

So, all excuses aside, I'm going to try and post some pictures and catch-up a little. Why not start with the stake dance Tyler and I attended last weekend :) It was like we were 14 again! I wasn't that excited going into it, but we had a GREAT time--dancing the Cotton-Eye Joe and trying to remember how to swing dance.

 All of the Hudson Ward people who attended

Enjoying the photo booth

Hopefully more photos to come tomorrow...