Good Daddy

I love this picture.  Ryan had been begging me to do her nails several times during the day, but it seemed I was always in the middle of something.  She came and asked me again when I had a sink full of dishes.  I should have stopped and done her nails, but instead told her to wait until I was finished.  Don jumped right in and offered to do them for her.  Ryan was thrilled and immediately ready for a manicure.  She has a good daddy.  

Field Day

It's that time of year again.  School is almost out and that means Field Day is here!  The kids really look forward to Field Day.   They get to spend the day outside doing all sorts of activities and contests and relays and obstacle courses.  I love to go and run around trying to catch Davis, Ryan, and Ethan in whatever activity they're doing at the moment!

Here's Ryan in a relay race with her good friend, Haley. 

Hula Hoop contest!

Just hanging with good friends

I got to join Ethan with his class for a picnic.  It was only 80 degrees instead of the usual 95 we get sometimes.  Thank goodness. 

Davis was totally into this dance routine until he noticed me and my camera.  Then he got all shy and wouldn't dance!  He rules the school with his 6th grade buddies.   Can't believe he's off to Middle School in just a few short months.  

Tug o war!

After I took this picture of my boys I realized that it would be the last year that Davis and Ethan would ever be in the same school again and they only have a few weeks left.  So sad!!  Davis is such a good big brother and really looks out for Ethan.  He calls him "bro".  Ethan really looks up to Davis.  Love my boys.  

Ryan and Ethan will be the only ones in Elementary School next year.   This is all just happening much too fast!  It was a great day with the kids.   But, summer time...here we come!!

Making Memories

It started out as any typical Monday night in our house...our family had gathered for Family Home Evening, a night set aside by our church leaders to make our families a priority and instruct and learn from one another...and to have fun!  Ethan had just taught a lesson on the Priesthood.  We sang the closing song.  It was my turn to choose the activity this week.  We were going to go outside and make ginormous bubbles with Don's homemade bubble concoction that he found on the internet.  But, during the closing song we heard this crazy sound.  It was rain that came out of nowehere.  And it was POURING.  It had to be close to 75 degrees outside and the sun was still shining.  Do I dare allow my kids to get their good clothes wet?  If I choose this to be the activity do I have to join them as well?  Do I really want to deal with the aftermath of sopping wet bodies and clothes coming in my house?  These thoughts ran through my head as my family looked at me in anticipation of what our activity would be.  I said, "Let's go run in the rain!"  The boys and Ryan immediately jumped up with me and followed me straight out the back door.  Ginger and Gillian were dumbfounded and wondering if they should change into swimsuits.  Don said no and they immediately all joined us outside.  It was really pouring!   

I was done after about 3 minutes because I get cold very easily.  I suggested we all go inside and pile into the Master jetted bath tub in our clothes.  The kids were not ready to be done.  They wanted to go visit families/friends in the neighborhood!  It took everything in me to go along with that one.  I am usually the party pooper but I knew this would be a memory that my family wouldn't soon forget.   We just started running crazy and barefoot through the front yard and down the street, splashing in puddles and cracking up. The kids absolutely loved it.  

Our friends weren't home so we ran all the way back home.  People driving by gave strange looks.  I am pretty sure they had no idea that we were a conservative family out for some good, clean fun.  They probably just saw a group of crazy kids and were appalled.  haha

When we got home I had to grab the camera and I'm so glad I did!  I love these pictures!!  

And I love my little family. 

Mother's Day..my 15th

Yes, this was my 15th Mother's Day!  Hard to believe I have been a mother that long.  This was actually the first Mother's Day that we have been home for ten years.  We are usually at our Zierenberg family reunion in California but this year the date changed to June.  My family definitely took advantage of the fact that we were home and spoiled me rotten!  I woke up to a decked out house, by Ginger and Gillian.  They were up until 1:00 in the morning!!

My family brought me breakfast in bed...Texas french toast with fresh strawberries and whip cream...my favorite.   Here we are right before it was time to leave for church...

I love my babies.  I'm not exactly sure how they got this old, but it has been a joy and a pleasure to be their mom.  They have taught me so much about life and what is important and are incredible examples to me each and every day.   I love being a mom and so grateful that I can be home to raise them.  

I am living my dream! (some days I need to remind myself of that:)

After church, Don and the kids made BBQ tri-tip sandwiches which were beyond delicious, as well as homemade snow cones.  Yum!  My family showered me with hand-made cards and gifts and they even serenaded me with their very own made-up song!  I loved it.  They wouldn't let me video it :( 

It was a wonderful day and I felt so loved and really enjoyed just being home with my family.   Don gave me a gift that made me burst into tears.  He does that quite often.  He took my favorite picture of my sister, Ginger, and I (the last we took together before she passed) and had his friend re-create it into this painting for me.  I can't even express how much I love and cherish it.  

Here I am with my mom (below).  This was taken on Mother's Day of 2011 at our family reunion.  Living so far away, I don't get to see her as often as I'd like.  She is an amazing example to me.  Always has been.  I know I am who I am today because of all she taught me.  She is a rock, and her commitment and dedication to the Lord is a blessing that I will always be grateful for.  

I love you, Mom!  Happy Mother's Day :)

Field Trip to Dallas Arboretum

The Dallas Arboretum was the final First grade field trip of the year, and I got to chaperone.  Yep.  Another bus ride with 80 first graders.  It actually wasn't so bad...just hot because the AC wasn't working.  Lovely.  I actually really enjoy going on field trips though, because Ethan is so thrilled that I am on the school bus with him!   Here he is on the bus with his buddy, Sean. 

I was in charge of a small group of 4 for the day and they were all darling.  

The Arboretum was beautiful!  We had missed all the spring tulips and daffodils because it was already April, but there were still so many incredible flowers and colors.  

There was also an art expedition on display all over to add to the beauty and uniqueness of the grounds.  These designs were made of glass and they were so cool!  

Ethan loved the little Pioneer village.  

We stopped and had a picnic lunch halfway through the trip with friends from his class.  

I love these trees.  

It was a great day with my little first grader.  

My Pretty Gilli

Gillian was all dressed up on her way to a piano recital when I saw this gorgeous spot for a picture.  Turned out beautiful, hey?    

A few nights prior to this, I had come home late from a church meeting and was so touched to find this note on my counter with all the lunches made for the next day.  

I love my Gilli girl.  

Easter

Saturday night, before Easter Sunday, we always spend the evening coloring eggs as a family.  The kids love it and we always have a lot of fun.  Don really got adventurous this year and tried some silk dying from some of his old silk ties.  They turned out really cool!  I think we will find some more silk ties at Thrift stores and do it again next year.  

Pretty amazing how that pattern just transferred to the egg, huh?  And it's really easy, too.  

Before bed, Ryan and Ethan made sure to leave out a little snack for the Easter Bunny.  They each wrote him a note, too.  Cute kids.  

Ryan let the boys sleep in her room so they could wake up to their Easter baskets together.  Don actually heard them at 1:00 in the morning looking through their baskets and made them go back to bed!  They were obviously a little excited.  

The big girls wouldn't let me take any pics of them first thing in the morning.  Teenagers.

After church we had a few families (the Piersons and Hainlines) over for a nice Easter dinner.  It's always sad to be so far from any family on Holidays, but good friends always make up for it.  I made a big honey baked ham, funeral potatoes and rolls.  Our friends brought drinks, salad, and the dessert.  It was quite the feast and so much fun to be with friends.  We always have a lot of fun setting and decorating the tables.   Too bad I didn't get any pictures after everyone got there.  

Easter Sunday has always been a special day, but it's even more special now that I have a sister on the other side of the veil.  The hope and peace of the Resurrection brings me so much comfort.  I am so grateful to know that my Savior, Jesus Christ lives and that we will all be resurrected, and can be together with our loved ones again!  

Ethan and Team Storm

Ethan finally got his turn to play soccer this year.  I am not one of those parents who have all of my kids in sports all at the same time.  I am totally into sports, but I refuse to let sports take over my life and  run our family time.  Everyone gets their turn to play and everyone gets their turn to cheer on their siblings.  It seems crazy to me that starting him in 1st grade is actually starting him 3-4 years later than the majority of his peers.  Crazy!  Ethan was so excited when I told him I had signed him up and that two of his buddies would be on his team.  Their team was called Storm.  

This is my favorite picture (below) from the season!  I was so excited when I saw that I had captured Ethan in the air going for the kick.  Love it.  

Here are most of the boys on his team (below).  The one in black is Rex from his class at school and his dad was the coach.  Jaxon, his other buddy from school is the other one in red above.  

Ethan usually played forward, but got to play goalie in most of the games as well.  

This picture below doesn't really show it....but this was Ethan's first (and only) goal for the season!  He is behind the other guy and gave it a hard kick which made it fly past the other boy and past the goalie into the goal!  I actually kind of missed it because I was trying to capture a picture.  Don only missed one game and of course it was the one where he scored.  Ethan was SO excited.  It was awesome.  

He really enjoyed the season.  He always said he liked practice better than games.  I think it is because he liked knowing the kids he was playing against.  He was definitely more aggressive during practice!  Oh well, it was his first year and he learned a lot.   It was a fun season and he is already anxious to play in the fall!