Kellen, Janers, and Juders

I stole this post from my sister's blog, which was sooo much easier than putting it all together myself, so thanks Jenn! :)  I had some cute pictures from this visit of the kids at the park, but my mischievous son decided to play with the camera one day while I wasn't around, and erased everything on it from Easter until now.  Most of it was backed up, but not everything.  I only cried a little bit. 

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In early June, Jude and I made a visit to Idaho to visit my big sis Marie - plus Taylor and the little cousins, of course! Unfortunately, my camera broke on this trip, so I don't have as many pics as I'd like. (Plus, no pictures of Marie or Taylor! Sheesh.) But here's a few of them anyway...

 First off, here there's the kid clan enjoying a little tub time! Jude is my little observer... He loves to just sit and watch/listen to what's going on. He was especially observant on this trip... totally in awe of the "big kids" (as his face here illustrates).

Here, Kellen is showing Jude the picture (of a robot) he drew for him. Kellen is quite the artist- he spends a big chunk of each day drawing pictures!

 

A little pool party in the backyard (Jude was not a fan of the chilly water!)

Jane was ever the "mini mom" to Jude which is a crack up since she's still practically a baby herself! She made sure that Jude kept his hat on (to Jude's dismay)...

 

This pic makes me laugh... Jude had just ripped off his hat and is still glaring at it and heeeeere comes the ever-watchful Jane to put it right back on again! (And isn't Kellen a cutie, smiling away?)

And, saving the best for last... You could sum this one up in just 2 words - "nap time".

 

Thanks, Marie and Tay! We had a wonderful time- we love you guys! I only wish we had some pics of Jude with his cousins on the Singleton side! Dumb old camera.

Motherhood: An Eternal Partnership with God

Moms, watch this, and then watch it again!  I never want to forget these words from an apostle of God.  I know that Motherhood is a sacred role, and a blessing beyond compare.  I'm so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in my life.  It has brought me more happiness than I ever thought possible.

Heaven on Earth

This should have been posted back in March, but I'm slow as usual.  I am not going to let lateness keep me from posting things that I want to remember, so oh well!  You'll just have to forgive me.  :)

Jenny was visiting Utah for her sister-in-law's wedding, and she flew into Boise first to spend a week with me!  I was overjoyed to have her and little Jude!  We didn't do anything super amazing, but simply basked in the happiness of being together and seeing our little ones play.   Living so far apart has been hard for us both, but we've been blessed enough to have a few visits a year, which is more than I initially expected.  I'm grateful for that!

Jenn, having you here was so sweet!  I love the easiness of your company.  I don't know if we are so alike because we've always been together, or because we are just kindred spirits, or both, but I love it!   I'm so grateful that Heavenly Father sent us to the same family.  I love you.

Look, Jenn!  We are Mommies now!  CRAZY!

Jude and Jane in their jammies.  Cuteness!!!  Jane never left Jude's side, if she could help it.  She just loved having a baby to take care of.  (Even if that baby weighs as much as she does! :) Ha ha!)

Mom and Grandma Huish drove up at the end of the week.  It was so sweet that Grandma wanted to come see me and my family and our new home.  She came all the way from Salt Lake, and I know it wasn't easy for her.  She has always been an important part of my life, but I don't get to see her much these days.  Having her here, along with Mom and Jenny was wonderful.  We had so much fun laughing and talking.  We talked a lot about the gospel, and how blessed we are to have it.  I felt a great appreciation for Grandma and Mom, and the legacy of faith they have continued to build upon.  I owe so much of my happiness to them and their examples.
Grandma and I listened to old tunes by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Glen Miller Band, and Rosemary Clooney.  Songs from her time, that I just happen to adore.   The music takes her back to her girlhood, and Jenny and I love to hear about it.  It sounds like such a romantic era, so different from today.
On the last day of our visit we were walking out the door to go to lunch at the Olive Garden, after which they would all head to Utah, it dawned on me that we hadn't taken pictures.  Kids were all fussy, and it was a serious pain to get these shots, but I'm so glad we did.  I wanted others with Jenny, Jude, and Kellen, and all different mixes, but it was too crazy.  Hopefully, next time.
Mom, Grandma, and Jenny, thank you for making this trip to come see me.  It is a memory I will always cherish.  I am so blessed to have you in my life.  I love you forever!

ZOO BOISE

We went with our good friends, the Simmons, to Zoo Boise on Labor Day.  It wasn't too crowded, and the weather was absolutely perfect, in the low seventies.  It was lovely, and we all had a great time. 

I wish I had time to learn how to make a picture collage or a slide show, but I'd rather go for a walk with the fam right now, so your getting a long line of pictures instead.  Enjoy!

Summer Time

I chose this blog background (it was a palm tree beach scene) because I wish I could tell you that the reason I've abandoned blogging for the summer, is because we've been in Paradise.  Hawaii, Mexico, Bora Bora,  or something like that.  I'm afraid we've just been here at home, doing the usual.  Summer is busy, but not so much more than any other time of year, since our kids aren't in school yet.  It's just the same old thing.  Too much to be done, and not enough time to do it!  I'm still struggling to find that impossible balance!  Does anyone know how to find it?  If so, let me know.  :)

So... for a quick update?  Lets see...

Jane is getting so big, talking like a pro, and copying everything I do.  She likes to stand next to me at the sink/counter and "help" me.  She'll always say, "Wook, Mommy!  I making!"   I've been so impressed with how detail conscious she is.  She can unwrap the straw on a juice box, throw the wrapper away, and stick the straw into the box.  That may not sound that cool to you, but she's not even two yet!  Kellen is four, and he still struggles with that one!  (Although I'm pretty sure it's a ploy to get Mom to wait on him hand and foot. ;))  Jane loves to spray down any surface with a spray bottle and wipe it clean.  She loves to "help" me fold towels and clothes, and even pats them down once she has stacked them, just like I do.  If she spills a drink she runs to get a dish towel and wipes it up.  She puts toys back in the toy box, singing the clean up song.  She also loves taking care of her baby and her stuffed animals.  She reads to them, feeds them, baths them, etc.  She's just a busy mini mommy!  

Kellen is way into drawing right now, and is quite good at it.  He would draw all day if I'd let him!  Taylor subbed his primary class last week, and he had all the kids draw after the lesson was over.  Well, in the time it took the other 5 kids to do one picture, Kellen had whipped out 4, complete with little details on clothes and faces, etc.  He gets this serious look on his face, and buckles right down, knowing just what he is doing. 
He's really catching on to gospel truths and gaining his own little testimony.  He loves talking about the gospel, and I've even heard him telling our neighbor kids about it.  Just last week I heard him explaining to a little friend of his why we should share:  "Because Heavny Fahver wants us to always share wif people, cause he wuvs all of us!  Yup, all duh people in.. duh.. whole.. WRILD!  So, ye got-sta be nice, and choose duh right, kay Jaden?  Dohn choose duh.. devil."

Taylor  has been working on a new product for McDonalds.  I'd tell you what it is, but then I'd have to kill you!   Just rest assured that he's trying to keep the calorie content as low as possible, so he wont be responsible for any more childhood obesity! ;)  He works hard to support our family, and I'm so grateful.
He's always busy with work, church, and family, but if he has any spare time he loves to be in the yard.  It has really come so far these past two years, thanks to him (and all the generous starts from his parent's yard).
He played a lot of tennis this summer and of coarse there is always Basketball!

As for Me, I'm working out every day and really enjoy the exercise.  I put in 10 miles on Monday!  I was pretty excited about that.  I'm also still loving Zumba and PiYo (pilates mixed with Yoga).
I'm finally feeling my singing voice come back, and it's exciting!  I have so much resonant space back where those golf balls/tonsils used to reside!  At the same time I feel like I'm sort of re-learning to sing.  Everything feels so new back there.    
I've really been wanting a sewing machine for a while now, and yesterday at a yard sale I found an old one for $10.  Today I took it to the shop and the lady there told me it's a great machine!  All metal, with a really powerful and beautiful stitch!  She said it could easily sell for $150, even though it's super old.  YAHOOOO!!!

That's all for now.  I wish I could report some awesome summer adventures, but Tay hasn't had a lot of time off.  We've had a few excursions, and there is always good company to be had.  We always have a good time, no matter where we are.  Some day we'll get that big vacation... maybe next year?  In the meantime, I guess Paradise is really right here, and life is good in Paradise.

May I Help You?

Tay took this one with his cell phone, and I just had to share.  Those of you lucky enough to be close with Kellen, know that he has never had trouble making himself right at home wherever he is!  I'm surprised that he isn't using some of those nice towels to get even more comfortable!   What a nut! :)

More New Posts Below

I'm trying to keep things in chronological order, and I am a binge blogger, as you know, SO...

if you would like to read about Kellen's preschool adventures, and see some cute pictures, keep scrolling down.  There is also a new post just below the tonsillectomy post.

Sorry so confusing!  It will happen again. :)

Trials and Blessings

Back in 2004 a doctor told me I should have my tonsils removed.  I didn't even consider it because we were poor college students without health insurance.  I just took the antibiotics, and hoped for the best.  Then I started having kids, and lets face it!  Is there ever a convenient time to have surgery when your a mom?

Nope.

Well, here we are, six years later, and after years of getting sick, losing my voice, and not being able to sing the way I know I should, we finally bit the bullet.  I had the tonsillectomy yesterday.

OUCH.

Not pretty, people.  Let's just say I felt better after childbirth.  This is insane.

On the other hand I have never felt more blessed.  The outpouring of love from friends and family has been overwhelming.

Taylor has seriously been superman, taking care of me, the kids, the cleaning, the shopping, the babysitting situation, my eating and medicine schedule... He is the best.  I love him so much.

My parents have offered to come stay with me, even though they have tons going on right now, but I don't even think we'll need them, because we have such good friends here in Idaho.  Yesterday the phone was ringing all day with people calling to express their love and concern and offer selfless service.

My good friend, Lindsay, who just happens to be the best cook in town, made me the most delicious, comforting, chicken noodle soup with homemade noodles, plus her famous Lion House rolls, that I can actually swallow cause they are so melt-in-your-mouthy.  Mmmmmm...  She is so sweet.

My kids went to a friends house yesterday, and they are being sat by two other good friends today, and there are more offers on the table, depending how the next two weeks go for me.  I just can't believe how wonderful everyone has been!

Most of all I have felt extremely close to the Lord these days.  Taylor has given me two blessings this month, and both were so beautiful, and a true source of comfort and strength to me.  I had been looking for my patriarchal blessing for a few months, and really felt that I needed to read it before the surgery.  Well, the night before, as I was tidying up the den... lo and behold!  There it was!  It felt like another tender mercy.  I was almost glad that I had lost it for a while, because I found it when I needed it most, and was thirsty for that guidance.

I've been having some personal struggles with the spirit in my life these days.  Not that my testimony was fading or anything, I just was having trouble finding a balance.  Before having kids I took for granted how easy it was to seek after the Spirit, increase my gospel knowledge, ponder the scriptures, meditate, etc.  As all you parents know, there is rarely a moment of peace, when you are not exhausted from all the craziness.  Plus, I'm the primary chorister, which I love, but sometimes I miss the ease of just going to church and being "fed", you know?

Well, for some time now, I've been pleading with the Lord to grant me the spiritual strength (and the physical/mental strength) I need to continue to progress in the gospel.  I don't want to be content with where I am at.  I want growth!  Yet, like I said, it's so much harder to put in the time.

Since my blessing from Tay at the beginning of the month, I have felt a real difference.  Somehow I have found the time to study more.  I am also finding little quiet moments where I can find a secluded place to pray vocally.   I don't know if these moments were always there, and the Lord is just now helping me recognize them, but each time it feels like a little miracle, and I am again assured that the Lord is mindful of me and my small life.   He loves me, and I feel it.

I am so grateful for a loving Father in Heaven, who will never turn us away.  He waits for us to come to him,  ready to pour out his blessings.  When we turn our hearts to him with love and gratitude we can feel peace and joy, no matter where we are in life.

A Gorgeous Day

The weather has been so lovely lately, so I took the kids to one of our favorite parks in Meridian.  I didn't tell Kellen where we were going, so when he saw the park he said, "I can't believe it, Mom!  I can't believe my eyes!"  What a nut!  Most of the pictures are of Jane, simply because I was standing by to help her the whole time.

Don't you just love Spring?

PS:  The date on these pictures is wrong (don't know why my camera keeps falling behind!)  It was the 23rd!  Just FYI :)

Soup Anyone?

Last month we got a small blanket of snow on the ground, and I knew that it wouldn't last long, so I hurried the kids out to play.  We made snow angels and I pulled them in the snow tube.  Then when we were all cold we thought some delicious soup would be just the thing...

Kellen would add ingredients (snow, dirt, grass, twigs,

leaves, rocks/ veggies in all there varieties) while Jane stirred.

(Doesn't Kell look like a little dutch boy with his funny hat?)

"I'm Chef and you're Sous Chef!" 

 " No I'm Chef!"

 

Such serious business.

 

"Are we really gonna eat that?"

I think Jane was a little confused by the convincing make-believe of Mom and Kellen.  We kept saying, "Ooooh, this is going to be soooo gooood!  Yum!  Delicious!"

I guess her curiosity finally got the best of her! 

Why yes, those are princes boots and pink snow pants on my son.  We have hand-me-downs from cousins, and they just so happen to fit Kellen right now.  I swear, I would buy him his own gear if we had real snow more than 3 times a year around here!  As it is, he didn't care.  In fact, he thought it was hilarious!

Bon Appetite!

I was glad that we seized the moment,  because in the time it took us to shed our snow clothes and have some real soup, the snow was history.