Easter Weekend

I am finding it hard to believe that April is in full swing and that summer is just around the corner. I am getting ready for warm weather, lots of swimming and outdoor activities, BBQ's, late night walks with my hubby, the smell of grass and of course sleeping in. We had a nice weekend together as a family. We tried to keep it relaxing. We took Mitch's dad on Friday for lunch and a dr. appt. We took the kids swimming in the afternoon. Carly loved every minute of it! She was just smiles the whole time. Caleb was whooping everyone on the obstacle course they have there, except his dad. It wont be too much longer that Caleb will show him whose boss. After we went swimming, Mitch and I went out to dinner and had sushi. I had been craving it for weeks and finally got it:) On Saturday, I worked out and Aubs had a soccer game. She is so fun to watch. She just keeps getting better every time she plays. I ran 2.5 miles to Zumba class and then we spent the afternoon dying eggs and making cookies. Then that night, we went to some very special baptism's. My friend and her 3 kids got baptized. Mitch baptized two of them and then on Sunday confirmed them too. It was really sweet to be a part of it. I felt so happy for them to be able to embrace the gospel and to be able to have a new fresh start in life. On Sunday, we got up early for the kids to find what the Easter bunny left them and I made some waffles with some really awesome homemade Buttermilk caramel syrup.The kids loved it. I had a bite and it was ymmy. I have been trying my hardest to stick to my diet though.  We enjoyed church and a nice little dinner that I made and the kids hid eggs and played together most of the evening. At church, I felt completely filled with the spirit and felt to happy to know that my Redeemer lives and loves me.

Favorite Talk

This past weekend I loved listening to all the speakers in General Conference. It was food for my soul. I have been watching more videos on my ipad, even while in the bath. I juust cant get enough. I have needed to hear so many things that were talked on.  But one particular talk hit close to home for me. Not only am I guilty of it but so are people that I associate with. Family and friends included in this close circle. But it also got me thinking about the world in general. If we all treated each other better with more respect, then life would be great. We often allow ourselves to get caught up in everything being about ourselves instead of others. When we do these things we are acting selfish instead of loving. We are allowing our spirit to ge more tainted by the adversary. I think we all needed to hear this wonderful talk. So much was said that caught my attention.  If you would like to hear the whole talk by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf go here.

Real Men...

Snuggle. I just had to take a picture of my boys taking a nap yesterday together. General Conference finally got to them and they were both out. I thought it was so cute that Caleb is such a big boy but he still likes to snuggle and get some lovin from his daddy. I should have taken a bigger picture and shown just how big Caleb looked laying all over Mitch. It was just too sweet. I love these boys!

Mitch took Caleb to the priesthood session of Conference on Saturday night. I was so proud of them for making such a big effort to get there together. I am proud of you guys.

Cool Dude.

When my sister was a little girl, probably about five years old, she put on a pair of sunglasses as we were leaving Knott's Berry farm and sang "I'm a cool dude in the middle of the night." It was so funny and cute and the song stuck. Anytime, anyone has a pair of sunglasses on or even when we are just driving down the road, my Dad will burst into song and saing this. My kids now sing it. And I couldnt help but think of it when Carly was sporting these sunglasses the other day.

If you know me you will know that I am a huge Beatles/Paul McCartney/John Lennon fan. So when I saw this ice cream I just had to take a picture. I wanted to get it but I am doing too good on my eating lately that I didnt need a deterent. But when I need an ice cream fix, I will definately be trying it:)

Spring Break

Spring break has come and gone:( It makes me sad that the week went so quickly. I enjoyed being with the kids and relaxing. We just hung out around here until Thursday and I could tell they were getting a little stir crazy and so was I! So Mitch decided that we should take a little trip down to ABQ for the day and spend a night. One the way there we stopped in Lybrook, NM. Mitch's great grandfather started that little town and had a hotel and store there for years until the hotel burned down. Mitch has relatives that still run the store and that live out there. We took a picture with him and the last of the Lybrook's, our kids. If Caleb doesnt have any boys, the Lybrook name will not go on. I wanted them to have a picture together and also one to show Mitch's dad.

On the way down my co-pilot fell asleep and left me all alone.

When we got to ABQ  our first stop was Chcuk E Cheese. My kids love that place. We usually go there when we are in CA with my Dad and Mary so it felt weird that they werent there. And it was cute that when we got there Carly remembered this too and kept saying "Where's Papa?"

Next we went to the mall and did some shopping and after that headed over to the hotel to check in and do some swimming. The kids had fun there too and after that we went and at at our favorite place Cracker Barrel.  It was still too early to call it a night so after dinner we went over to the temple. Best part of the trip for me. It was quiet and beautiful with the fountain going and all the pretty flowers blooming. I felt so full of happiness in these moments. I have been given far too much to be grateful for.

 A little something about Aubs. Last night she put together the BEST Family Home evening! I was so proud of her. She delegated out each thing  and made everyone in the family be a part of it. I am so impressed with her knowledge and love for the gospel. She is simply amazing. I couldnt be more proud of her.

After a terrible nights sleep, actually I wouldnt eve call it sleep. {Note to self- Never stay in one room with four kids ever again. Nuff said.} We got up had breakfast in the concereige lounge and then headed over to the zoo to spend the morning there. It was absolutely gorgeous weather and the animals were all playful and entertaining. The gorillas were my favorite.

We had fun there but by the end of it, the kids were getting cranky and we decided to start heading out. We had lunch at Chik-fil-A. { Thank you Katie for making me try this place, my life will never be the same} YUM. Made another quick stop at the mall, which turned out to be a waste because I ran into Sephora to buy some makeup and ended up losing it somehow. All I know is I didnt makde it home with it. Boo. And the finale to our trip...a  stop at Krispy Kreme for my sweet toothed hubby. I was so proud I didnt even have one. I had a bite or two but not a full one to myself. All in all it was a good trip. I wish that traveling with four kids was easier and not so annoying but it is and I still love them even though they do drive me crazy at times:) Aww, the joys of being a parent.

Lucky

I feel very lucky and blessed to be these kids' mom.

                                                                Happy St. Patricks Day!

Insta-nt Update

For those of you with an iphone, I am sure you are on Instagram. I love it and add the majority of my photos on there. You can follow me and comment on my pics and do the same to other people. Just another form of time wasting:) Here is an instagram update of some of the pics I have on there. Not necessarily in order of when it took place.

Aubs found a new little napping spot

                                                  Carly snuggling my mom's cat, Mitt

                                         You will often find Carly doing this....

 

                         Caleb is starting up baseball again. Did great last night at a scrimmage.

 Brynley outside ready to go sledding down the hill in our alley for the kid's first snow day of the year.

Little Miss Purdy. Let's just say this chic has a strange fascination with my makeup on a regular basis

Spring Soccer has started up and Aubs was looking so determined as goalie yesterday. She is awesome!

Me being a dork and snapping a picture of a dress I tried on. Down from a size 22 to a dress size 14. Boo-ya.

                                               The sweetest big sister you will ever find

Caleb and his National History Day project on Malcom X. He took 3rd at regionals.

 Caleb played in another drama play "A Midsummer Nights Dream" with a 70's twist. He is truly so natural and too funny!

                                                    My beautiful blue eyed girl

I told you Carly has her toes in her mouth alot. And she also pulls out her little pony and bow I put in her hair, so it makes this mohawk looking hairdo on the top of her head. Cracks me up!

First Experience

This past weekend, we had the opportunity to take Caleb down to the Albuquerque temple with the youth of our ward to do baptisms for the dead. If you arent familiar with what this is please click here. The weather was beautiful for the drive down and it was a much needed experience for the three of us. My mom kept the girls for us, since they are not old enough to go yet. Thank you Mom for doing that for us to be able to go!
Caleb seemed to really be taking it all in and even shared some feelings and experiences he had while in the temple. He was invited to go to English Expo this same day to compete at a state level in english competitions but he chose to go to the temple! I was very proud of his choice to do this. I asked him after if he felt like he made the right choice and he said "For sures".
I am so very grateful for a worthy husband who was able to help that day in the temple and for an even worthier son for sharing his sweet spirit with those he comes in contact with. When we were in the temple, it occured to me that I had never gone to the temple with my own family growing up. It made me sad inside that I have not been able to share special experiences with them like this. I hope Caleb knows how blessed he is. To have both of his parents right there beside him in the temple.  I cannot wait until the girls each get to go.  After I thought these things, I looked up to see my friend and fellow young womans leader Kaitlyn Harris staring at me and smiling, her sweet smile brought such comfort and happiness into my heart. Then I remembered, I have been able to share these things with special people we go to church with. Our ward family.
 I love our ward that we are in. They have been lifesavers in so many ways to us. I feel very fortunate to know the people we do and that we have such an amazing ward. When I sit and think about how blessed I am, I am truly overwhelmed with love in my heart and gratitufe for my Heavenly Father.