Lately.

“E” pancake for Elna!  Fun Dad!

Dancing with both girls.  Such a fun dad!

Hiding in the tomato plants at Brian’s parents house.

An impromptu family picture at Brian’s parents house…on my iPhone—I need to start taking more pictures on my real camera!

My hair seems extra dark lately—I think with each baby it gets darker and curlier. 

Can you believe their cuteness?!

These next pictures are of the girls at my doctor appointment—my mother-in-law has been out of town for like 2 months and she usually watches them when I go to appointments.  For some reason I have had about 5 doctor appointments while she has been gone—and several more on the calendar in the next few weeks.  They aren’t quite as relaxing with children there—one of the reasons I really love living near family!  But, since family wasn’t available to watch them, and while we were waiting for the doctor I took these cute pictures of my girls:

Cheers from these three amigos!  Eating Dum Dum’s at the splash pad.

I walked into the kitchen after putting Harriet down for a nap to find Elna watching her show like this—it’s that blank look on her face that makes me feel like cutting back screen out all together—but it is so helpful at certain times during the day right now…

Elna fell out of her highchair during her timeout.  She got some pretty sad scrapes on her chin.  She wanted to send a picture to Brian at work with the band-aid on her chin.  You can see her eyes still watery from crying, but she’s still managing a smile.  // her baby needed a band-aid too—obviously.

I am so crazy about these pictures of Elna riding her horsey—all decked out in her cowgirl gear.  I took 7 or 8 shots of her on my phone and they were ALL so darling and different enough that I wouldn’t have even known where to begin with weeding them out.  She was just being especially cute.  Somehow how I copied them to my computer all but two of them disappeared.  I’ll try to get over it.

My Uncle Ray and Aunt Diane stopped by for a few hours to visit during their motorcycle trip up the coast of Oregon and then home to Utah.  I lived with them while I was pregnant with Clark, while I was going through my divorce.  Words can’t explain how much I love these two.  I was in a very sad place when I started living with them.  I knew I shouldn’t want to go back to the abusive situation I was in, but knowing that and feeling that in low moments is a different thing.  At nights I would hand my phone to them so that I wouldn’t be tempted to call him (I was weakest, lonliest—and so, so sad at nights), they would also let me crash their alone time at night—we would watch their shows together and I would sometimes cry or throw up (I was sick sick sick with my pregnancy).  They were such good listeners and validators.  They were my champions and I will always be grateful to them for letting me heal with them.  I don’t think I could have moved on without them.

Elna, me, Diane

Hattie & Diane

Are all mom’s obsessed with watching their children sleep?  She was sleeping on her side and I had to capture that since it never happens.  This picture almost makes me want to go into her room right now (it’s 10 p.m.) and wake her up to snuggle her…almost.

Wearing her new-to-her jammies (from her cousin Callie—we love hand-me-downs!)  She loves these jammies!  We loved them that night too, since she slept ALL night in them.  The night before (and the night before that and the night before that…you get the idea) she got up about 8 times.  Unfortunately, the magic wore off the next night.  If only they were actually magic!

And because she slept all night without getting up 8 times, she got icecream for breakfast.  Parenting at it’s best, folks!

I love what the care instructions said for these plants: “soil should not be kept moist at all times”—I think I can do this!

These girls are going to grow up knowing Home Depot better than the average contractor--

Underneath the siding Brian was getting for his shed.

Sitting on top of the siding.

While I was on my mission (more than 10 years ago!  Can you believe it?!) I saw this painting in an Ensign and I cut it out.  I’ve kept it all of these years.  A few Sundays ago I pulled it out and framed it so I could use it in a lesson I was teaching my Young Women.

It was painted by 28 year-old Minerva Teichert, who was asked to paint it by the president of the Pocatello Idaho Stake.  It depicts Mary Fielding Smith with her young son, Joseph F. crossing the plains.  “Left alone she sets her face amid the howling wolves and the fear of savages…yet they are not alone.  For to the side is a shadowy form mounted on a classical charger representing the captain of the Lord’s host and his men protecting the saints.”

I would love to own a larger version of it someday.  I want my children to see it every day and remember that even when they feel alone, especially when they are making good choices that no one else is making, that really they are surrounded by soldiers that they can not see.  Angels who are rooting for their righteousness!

The girls eating dinner—I love how Hattie is completely covered in her applesauce/oat bran.  When I took the picture of Hattie, Elna requested a picture too!  Any time, Elna!