Ouchie

Nothing worse than a nurse from school calling and leaving a message that your kid got hurt at recess. Last time this happened Natalie had broken her arm. This time it was in st. Patrick's  day and she got run into and face planted in the ground. 

She was bloody and scratched up. The worst part was the next morning when her eye was swollen almost shut. She was in a lot of pain. I hate to see my children in pain. I know I've talked about this before but it makes me think about all the times that I was hurt and my mom stood by my side. The one that stands out the most was when I got my appendix out, well first of first and then I have to get it removed. It was so painful and I remember my mom by my side crying with me. 

Then that same week boots- his tooth had been loose all spring break but he wanted to wait until he was at school to lose his tooth because he wanted to be able to go to the nurse and get the cute little container they let you put it to thin if you lose it at school. So he waited and waited with a very very very loose tooth. The first Monday back to school after spring break he came home with his tooth in a little treasure box and so excited. He looks adorable with a tooth less smile. Natalie also lost one of her molars and so they both left their teeth under their pillow for the tooth fairy to come. They also both left notes, Natalie's note asked that the tooth fairy please leave her tooth behind and bring her money. Boots left a note that asked if the tooth fairy would take the tooth but leave the little container that it was sitting in. Love that they wanted to leave notes for her.

Brains training has been coming along. Yesterday he went for the longest bike ride he's ever been on. He rode for 70 miles. Two weeks ago he went to go play basketball, which for the record I told him not to do so he wouldn't get hurt. When he walked in the door that night after basketball he had ice packs up a shirt and was in a lot of pain. He said he got slammed by someone in the ribs and that he was in a lot of pain. Sean checked him out and gave them x-rays to make sure that his ribs were not broken. They were just really badly bruised. Here we are almost 3 weeks later and he still struggling in pain. Last night he had to sleep on the couch sitting up because it hurts so bad. Hopefully the pain goes away and does not interfere with the rest of the stream. His race is in just under seven weeks and we can't wait to go check it out and cheer him on.

This week at school Courtney had a little trike a thon and they got to ride their bike around the track for 30 minutes. On the very first round on the track the teacher were showing them where to go and Courtney was the second person in line but stopped at the refreshment station where she spent majority of her time during the race. 

She stopped for lemonade on every other  time around. The other times she flew so faster on the corners but everybody thought she was going to Biff and crash. She had a lot of fun.

All the pretty ladies

I love taking a good Sunday shot. I think my children are so beautiful and I love to be able to capture how they look when we get ready for church on Sunday. I especially love it when they take pride in the way they look and want to go to church looking nice and fancy. I keep waiting for the love for poppy to wear off yet they always fight over who gets to hold her and who gets to kiss on her and see her beautiful smiling face. 

We have created a new ward the Little Elm second Ward and so far we have really enjoyed being in a new ward where people can pave the way. The kids are all enjoying getting to know new friends and their classes and how many new teachers. Brian was called into the young men's to work with the priests which he is excited about. We both love working with the youth. 

On that note I've had a little bit have a hard time since I was released from my calling in the stake young women's presidency last weekend. I'm sad, and not in a bad way but only because I had served not calling for almost 5 years. I love the youth of our church so much. They are so strong. Before that I had served on the word level for two years in young women's. Right now I have not received a new calling at church and I'm feeling a little bit lost. I just want to serve so I hope I get called into something quickly here. 

Last weekend dad also got released as stake president and I wish I could've gone up. He is such an amazing example of leadership and a role model for how I should live my life. He is so close to the Savior and loves to study the church and the doctor in. I have a strong testimony of the gospel and a lot of it is because of my dad's example and teachings. I'm sure his life will be completely different now that he is released and I don't really know what he will do with all his spare time! I hope some of that includes coming to Texas more.

I love these two girls. Leeann lives about an hour south of me and Ciara is moving to town this summer. We're all remains out in Provo and I love these girls so much. Ciara was in town for business so we had her and her cute family and Leeannn and her great husband over for supper Sunday. It was so much fun.

Lastly Libby and I took the girls to go see Cinderella. Boots also wanted to come. It was such an awesome show! Probably one of my very favorite, I know Brian would love it. It teaches such a good lesson of have courage and be kind. I've taken every opportunity to remind Natalie to be kind ever since you watch that movie. I'm not sure if it is doing anything but I will keep reminding her to be kind.

Spring breakin it!

This year for the kids spring break we head down to Houston. We drove down together and the kids insisted on each making their own individual tent to over their seat. I don't know what it is about blanket tents but I hate them. Doesn't matter if we are at home or in the car I despise them. They are a pain to put up and they always fall down. Anyway, the kids did great and we drove down to Houston Friday great after school.

The next day we went over to main event to go do some bowling, the gravity course, some arcade games, and laser tag. The kids had a blast! It is so much fun to see all of our kids together. Between the two of us we have eight and each of us has kids the exact same age but of the opposite sex.

Our first night there we went to "taste of Texas" and it was delicious. It was this huge steakhouse and we have to wait for almost 2 hours to get our seat. While we waited we could eat popcorn, nachos, and endless drinks. Then after we sat down we actually went back to where their butcher was and got to choose our own cut of meat.  It was all delicious and so much fun.

One of the days I wasn't feeling very good and really was not in the mood to eat anything. Courtney got sick while we were there and threw up, it was probably a 24 hour bug. But even though I didn't ever throw up I felt sick for a good whole day. That day we chose to go out to dinner to this burger joint downtown. Everybody enjoyed their dinner, I had a bowl of chicken noodle soup which I barely touched. I hate being sick on vacation. Little Wonka got sick as well with a fever and throwing up all week. I feel bad that Courtney passed it along to anyone.

The day before Brian and my 10 year anniversary, we decided to go to the rodeo just as adults. It was so fun to walk around and eat some of that yummy food. Then the boys left and Emma and I went to the rodeo and stayed for the tim McGraw concert. I don't know how many of Tim McGraw's concert I have been to now but I love him every time! We had so much fun! Poor John was stuck with poppy who cried and cried for hours in the car. He's a good sport because I didn't feel comfortable leaving her with the babysitter. Whoops. That night Brian left and flew back to Dallas because he had to get back to work. I stayed down there because I had to work as well.

We went to an outdoor wildlife Farm zoo type place and we were able to buy big buckets of food and go around on kind of a tractor ride. You got to feed all of the animals which included llamas, emus, ostriches, and all sorts of crazy animals! There was even a petting zoo were three baby goats had been born that morning. Natalie was in heaven! 

I even got to take a day to go see my dear wonderful friend Whitni!! We have been friends for 10 years, she was the first friend I had when I moved to Texas! I love her so much and I am so grateful that we have been able to keep up our friendship. She has the most beautiful home and the most adorable boys.

I was really nervous for the drive home, but it was really fun. The kids were awesome and boots was exhausted from camping the night before and staying up after midnight. Poppy also did fabulous! She cried for a little bit but it really just cried her and boots to sleep. He is such a good big brother. He is so patient with her when she cries and he really has a way of making her calm down. It was about a 5 Hour Drive, that is the most I want to ever drive along with my kids! We had such a fun spring break! We love the Butler family and are so grateful that they are such good friends of ours! We always joke that we have for chances at marriage between all of our kids. We would be so lucky to have any of our kids marry into the family!!