The Wings

This morning Joe asked me to take a picture of him and his wings to make sure they looked ok. The boys have been using the blow dryer every morning before school to perfect their wings, and they're getting pretty good at it if I do say so myself. 

Tonight I dropped them at the high school for the postponed Winter Blues jazz concert. 

I was able to snatch this picture from the facebook page since I couldn't be there in person this year. Hyrum is in the background on the piano and Joe is up front on the Alto.  

Love these boys making music!!

Fresh Spring Air

Today the sun was out and it was much enjoyed! Cooper loves being outside and is constantly screeching to get out the door. He had fun on the deck with Sonny. Lily played fetch with Sonny and Cooper was belly laughing the entire time. Whenever Cooper wandered onto the lawn, so did Sonny. He would lie down and chew his bone until Cooper wandered back to the deck, and then he would follow. 

While I kept an eye on them, I also spent most of the morning soaking and rinsing beans. I've been wanting to try my own canned beans for a while now, and today I finally got around to it. I made the sauce after a quick snooze with Cooper, and got them into the canner shortly before the kids got home from school. They came out just as we finished dinner. I'm so proud of myself for figuring out how to do it and glad my mamma was close by to help me remember how to pressure can. 

Ollie asked to take Cooper for a walk when he got home from school. Cooper was so excited to put on his shoes and coat. They stayed out for quite a while. After coming back in, Cooper brought Ollie his shoes again and asked to go out. They jumped on the trampoline and laughed at Coopers wild hair!

The evening was quiet with everyone away at youth activities. The little ones were in bed by 7:30pm and I enjoyed the open living room window, fresh Spring air, and gelato.

 

April Showers

It's raining outside, so we spent the day playing inside. The windows are all cracked open and the smell of a fresh Spring rain coupled with the homemade bagels I whipped up this morning is a pretty great smell.

 

Thirty-Six

Today I turned thirty-six. Some of the highlights included a birthday lunch with a friend, flowers in a joyful yellow vase from a friend who lives far away, dinner and cake with my family, and some beautiful tear drop shaped earrings that Mike bought back when we were on the cruise.

 

 

 

Spring Sunshine

After a long, cold Winter, the sun on our faces feels pretty great! The kids have loved spending time outside together! Looking out this afternoon and happening upon this sight made my heart happy.

 

Date Night

Tonight we enjoyed date night with a bunch of friends! We started at the Burger Parlor for dinner and then drove downtown to the bowling alley for Glow Bowl! It was so much fun hanging out with everyone. We got two lanes and did boys on one side and girls on the other. It was a good night out!

The lights did not disappoint tonight! I happened to look outside when I let the dog in and noticed them dancing on the horizon. I ran through the house to turn off the yard light while excitedly telling the children to come look outside! They joined me on the deck briefly to take them in. It felt like such a gift! I hope when I'm old and gone they will smile as they remember how crazy I was about sharing the northern lights, mountains, sunrises, sun sets and the change of seasons with them. 

 

Rainbow Dozen

Debating what kind of chickens to add to the flock next year to help perfect the rainbow dozen...

Cooper Snuggles

My favorite way to pass the time...

 

Looking Longingly

This boy is always looking longingly outside, wishing he was there!

 

Littles & Bigs

This morning left me with lots of time to enjoy the four littles before the four bigs woke up for church. We snapped a few pictures and danced to Nauvoo music!

What a joy to be a mother to these eight beautiful souls!