Mittens to slow him down...

This morning while I was doing some of the morning chores Collier went and locked himself in my bedroom to raise a little havoc. When I went to let him out I found him trying to get these mittens on himself. 

I helped him get them on, which can he was quite happy about. He continued to wear them around the rest of the morning. While I was unloading the dishwasher, he came to "help", like he always does. As he was helping I realized I really liked him wearing the mittens...it really slowed him down on his tearing everything out of the dishwasher. 

I think I might need to put mittens on him everyday. Carl says to put mittens, snow pants, and snow boots on him then strap him in a stroller and I'd be set. 

The thought is quite tempting but then I'd have to listen to him scream because he hates being confined. 

Even though he turns the whole house upside down at least once a day I am absolutely crazy about this little man!!! His personality is really coming out a lot more lately and I'm loving watching it and listening to all the new words he's learning. Love these kiddos and how entertaining they make my life. 

Spring fever!!!

I have spring fever worse now then I ever did when I was in school-at least then I ever remember having it!  I am truly so sick of sending the kids to school everyday. I can't wait until summer!  I'm so excited to get to keep them home with me each day. To have time to actually do something with them other then get ready for school, take them to school, pick them up from school, homework, dinner, and then bed. It feels like that's all we do and it's really starting to wear on us all. Especially poor Spencer. 

Going to school for the whole day has been an adjustment for him. He's also my home body. He loves to stay home! He cries a little each morning about going to school, and after I drop him off I usually shed a few tears of my own. We officially have 4 weeks and 2 days left and it can't come fast enough!!!

I took these pictures of Spencer last night after he lost his second tooth. He is so sweet and such a wonderful boy.  Lately he has really started acting his roll as the big brother and I'm loving watching him grow into it. He truly has acted the big brother roll for the girls for a while now. But the brotherly bond between he and Collier is really starting to show now and I'm truly loving watching them develop that special relationship. Collier is sure he's as big and Spencer (and anyone else) and tries to do whatever they do. Succeeding a good amount of the time; he really is a very capable 1 year old. I'm so grateful our Father in Heaven saw fit to bless my life with these 2 amazing boys. 

Collier with his hat at Sportsmans tonight. He's in his turtle PJ's that he loves. He had a blow out after dinner that was bad enough I just took him to the bath. Where he pooped again...I love kids! 

Collier very happily checking out how much chocolate milk I have him in his cup for dinner. (He usually only gets a little at a time. I was trying to get rid of the milk and didn't realize how much was left)

Now he's very happy and satisfied with his milk. His milk is a physical affirmation of what he already firmly believes...he's just as big and as capable as everyone else in this house!

Collier woke up from his nap late today. When he woke up the older two were home from school. I was getting an early dinner ready for them so Addi volunteered to go get him out of his crib. She came back a while later saying, "he wants you Spencer, he wouldn't let me get him out".  It made me laugh because he does the same thing to me in the mornings; he always wants Carl to get him out. 

Sure enough Spencer went back and before long both of the boys were coming down the hall. More and more I'm realizing how much Collier prefers men to women. 

Addi works hard to watch the youngers (this is what we refer to Maloree and Collier as lately) when asked. She also wants to help with cooking a lot more lately. She will pick helping with meal prep over plying babies with Maloree a lot lately. This doesn't make Maloree very happy and Addi will usually quickly sooth Mals by telling her she'll come play babies soon. 

Even though Addi wants to keep helping cook she'll usually leave before she's finished helping me to go play with Maloree and make Mals happy. I love to watch their relationship develop lately also. They truly do play together so well and are so fun to watch. I often get asked to babysit for them when they are playing house. 

One time while playing house Addi told Maloree she would watch her baby for her if Maloree would go find Addi's baby for her. Maloree was trusting enough to leave her baby with Addi, I chalked that up to 3 year old innocence. Another time Addi told Maloree while she was babysitting for Mals that Maloree's baby had gotten run over because it was playing in the road. 

Thankful Addi is a much more responsible sister/person in real life then when she's playing babies with Mals. She truly is so helpful and amazing. I'm so grateful for her and all the love and tenderness she brings intoy everyday life. I love how she can be so mad at me bs within, literally 2 seconds, be apologizing to me and telling me how much she loves me. 

She truly is amazing and I'm so grateful Heavenly Father allowed me to be her mommy. This is her posing by he elk outside Sportmans tonight. (She's quite the little poser)

The girls together petting the elk. I love these two little angels.  I love watching them be sisters, it's truly such a special relationship. I'm so grateful for all the love and forgiveness they give me each day. 

I love my babies!!! Life is wonderful!!! So hard at times, but wonderful all the time if I just allow myself to see it. Our Father in Heaven truly is such a loving gracious Father. I'm so grateful for all of the tender mercies and blessing he gives me daily. I'm so grateful for the opportunity He has given me to live this dream. I have 4 beautiful wonderful babies and a husband more amazing then I would have dared to dream of. Life is wonderful, thanks to a loving amazing Father in Heaven. 

When Maloree grows up...

Today As Maloree was "doing my hair" I asked her what she wants to be when she grows up. She told me she wants to "work in a restaurant." Then she got more specific and said she wants work at the McDonald's here and give me some food...

I love this little girl so much!!! I'm so grateful for all the love, happiness, laughter, snuggles, and understanding she brings into my everyday. 

These pictures are of her trying on hats at Sportsmans Warehouse tonight. 

Shoveling while it's snowing...

I believe that just about anything is possible. Not always on my own, I need help with a lot of things. But I believe with help from my Father in Heaven and/or those around I can do anything, as long as it's not directly against my Fathers plan for me.

However, I truly find it impossible to get my home clean and organized while having happy children. Truly completely impossible. I know that I tend to give into my children when they want me to play with them, read to them, help them, sit by them, hold them, etc. What they want from me really never ends. 

Some days I find this so frustrating when they're all screaming, crying, fighting, and grabbing/clawing at me at the same time.  But most days I love them and love that it's me they want. I think about how clean and organized my home will someday be and my heart instantly aches to hold and be with my babies! I truly love them and everything about them so much.

The day that I started this post I had been trying to clean my house.  Juanita's boys were here playing with us, thankfully, because when I asked for the toys to be picked up so I could vacuum, EE was the best helper.  All the kids helped, but he was on it. 

Once we finally got all the toys cleaned up and Collier to not dump in out for a few seconds I started vacuuming.  Collier was literally dumping toys out while I was vacuuming.  EE was saying "No Collier" in such a sweet voice and picking the toys up Collier had dumped so I could vacuum there.  I told EE that once I had vacuumed I didn't care he could dump them, then poor EE wouldn't have to keep picking up after Collier.  Collier must have understood also because he then started just following behind me.  Once I had vacuumed he would immediately dump the toys out in that spot. 

I love these beautiful babies of mine so much.  I know that my life is truly so blessed and I am so thankful for all of it!  However, I would be lying if I didn't admit that sometimes my blessing overwhelm me...My messy house overwhelms me...When I think of all the important things I need to teach my children I get overwhelmed...All of the things I would like to do for others, for house, for myself...basically life is crazy and messy 99% of the time.  But it's wonderful and blessed beyond anything that I could have ever imagined 100% of the time, so I'll gladly take the mess...and hopefully have a clean/organized home in about 10 years. 

Addi's first testimony

Addi wanted to bare her testimony today for the first time. We told her she had to do it herself. Dad could go up with her, but he couldn't tell her what to say. She

Said "I know" , still very determined to go. She went up and bore a simple beautiful testimony. She said "I love Heavenly Father and I know he is true." It brought tears to my eyes. 

Locked in...

We have a child lock on the outside of the office doors, to lock the kids out of the office. Spencer is the only child that can unlock it so far. 

This morning Spencer and Addi wanted to make copies of their faces. We went in the office so they could. Collier came in with us and Maloree stayed out. I didn't think anything about her staying out, I figured she'd just play with the toys in the front room. 

When we tried to come out of the office I couldn't open the door. I couldn't figure out why for a second. Just as I was figuring it out in my mind, I looked at Maloree's cute face on the outside of the glass office doors saying, "I locked it."  

She tried for all she was worth and couldn't get it unlocked. 

I called Carl to make sure he'd left for work like he had said he was and wasn't by chance outside working on something quick before work. Sure enough he was at his office. I called my neighbor thinking I would give her the garage code and she could get us out. She didn't answer. I knew Aunt Juanita was in our basement, but I knew she didn't feel well so I didn't want to wake her Incase she actually was asleep. Hence, I couldn't send Maloree down to get her or I knew Mals would wake her up. I asked Maloree to get my cell phone for me so I could make a long distance call...to Juanita's cell to see if she was awake. 

Maloree very obediently got me my phone, slid it under the office doors for me, and I called Juanita. Thankfully she was awake and answered. She laughed and came upstairs to let us out. She of course took a few pictures first. 

Oh how I love these babies of mine!!!  I truly do feel so blessed to have them and Carl. I am very thankful for this beautiful, crazy, exhausting, messy, perfect life that I have. I'm so thankful and blessed to know without a doubt that I have a Father in Heaven who knows me and loves me. I'm so thankful for the blessings and trials that he sees fit it give me. 

Collier's first steps.

Collier took his first steps on August 24th during sacrament meeting. He really wanted to get Sandy McCoy's jacket in front of him enough he was willing to walk for it apparently. 

He's a pretty good walker now and can walk when he wants to. He still prefers to crawl most if the time though, it's quicker for him and easier.