She Is Growing Up!

 Since we finished the basement we have been moving furniture and rearranging rooms.  With that came the time to take down the crib.  It was a little sad for me, and we took it down and put it away.  Our crib has been constant for the past 10 years.  I had to come to grips that it was time for me to move on and let the crib go.  Lucy couldn't be happier about her big girl bed, and she has slept like a champ on it.  Lucy has told me that she is not my baby anymore but, that she is my little girl.  But, I hate to tell her that she still is my baby!  She still has her chubby little legs and cheeks that are so fun to munch on.  Her little feet that still smell good even after being outside all day.  She is growing up but, I just love this girl right at this stage.  In the picture she is holding her favorite book " Baby Dear".  I have to read a story from it every night.  I tell her she is my Baby Dear and she doesn't seem to mind!

Let's get a closer look at those pig tails too!  I love you Lucy Lu!

Jill's Birthday and Memorial Day

 We got together to celebrate Jill and how happy we are that she was born!  Heavenly Father answered the prayer of a little 8 year old 28 years ago.  I remember praying and praying to Heavenly Father to send me a sister.  He answered my prayer and sent me the best sister!  The whole family LOVES Jill and so her birthday is big deal.  Mom got Jill a fun quote book that we all wrote in to Jill.

 Mom always does such a wonderful job making parties special and pretty.

 We gave Jill some cliff bars.  She will not have to buy any of those babies for a while!

 I had to document that sweet Sydney fell off her bike and broke her arm.  Luckily she has a cool Mom who decorated her sling so cute!

 Jill blowing our her candles with all these kids that love and admire her.  Check out that cake!  It was so good a peanut butter chocolate delight!

So, worse Mom ever!  This is the only picture I got on Memorial Day.  We actually had such a fun day working in our yard and enjoying the weather.  That evening we had the Schwitzer side over for a BBQ.  It was so much fun having everyone over and we had an awesome game of baseball going on in the back yard.  But, no I forgot to take pictures and this is what I have.  A homeless picture of Lucy with Ryan and Emily.  That morning I had Lucy so cute with a red, white, and blue outfit on and her hair done really cute.  But, by the end of the day her hair is pulled out, and a princess dress put on.  We really did have a great holiday with family!

Eliza's Preschool Graduation

 Miss Eliza has finished Pre-School and she couldn't be more excited to go to Kindergarten.  She has loved Kinder-Cottage Preschool and we were happy to celebrate all that she accomplished there.

 The kids sang some songs and recited poems they had learned.

 Eliza loved Ms. Cameon and Ms. Stacy.  They were outstanding teachers and helped Eliza get started on reading.  We will miss seeing them each week but, are so thankful for all they did for Eliza.

 Her brother and sisters were there to support her.

How I love this girl and I am so proud of her!

Off Track in May!

 We were out of school in May and boy were we happy about that!  The weather was awesome and we enjoyed every second of it!

One afternoon we headed up to Hogle Zoo.  The weather was perfect and it wasn't too crowed.  We went with the Young cousins and enjoyed being with them.

 The zoo had Lego exhibits of different animals all over the zoo.  They were fun to look at.  Here are the boys in front of the Lego snakes.

 Cute Lucy on the Carousal

 They had an area the kids could play with Legos and our kids had a grand time making huge towers and buildings.

 One afternoon we headed up to Salt Lake to hang out with Auntie Jill.  We went to Liberty Park, played, and got Slurpee's after.

 How we love our Auntie Jill!

 We love cookies in this house so there was lots of cookie making.  Jason informed me one day that he needed to know how to make chocolate chip cookies so, he could make them on his mission.  Very true!  That is one recipe I want him to have down before his mission! :)

 The weather was just awesome and we played and played outside.  Lucy has become the expert on the wiggle car and I sat and watched her through the evening.

 I can't get enough of this cute 2 year old!

 Mike worked on his hula hooping.  He is just awesome!!

Lots of list were made by Anne.  She is so organized and likes her life to be in order.  Everyday a list was made and then items crossed off.  I had to get a pic to show how cute and organized she is.

We played with cousins and went swimming a couple of times.  One week it was so hot that the kids ran through the sprinklers.

We finally finished the basement and moved Jason and Anne downstairs.  I felt like we moved all over again rearranging everything and moving furniture.  But, it's done and I love it!

 I love having the kids home and enjoyed this month with them.  They have now headed back to finish up their school year!

Topaz Mountain and a Girl's Weekend

 Mike and Jason headed out for some guy time.  They went camping at Topaz Mountain and also went to the Geo farm.  Jason was so excited and he loves spending good guy time with his Dad.

 Jason at the Geo farm.

 When they came home the next day they brought us home lots of treasures and lots of good stories.  They went hiking and went out at night looking for topaz with their flashlights.  They slept through a huge thunder and rain storm.  They made a fire and enjoyed cooking over it.  I love that my boys had time away from all us girls.  It's good for them to get away.

We as girl's had just as much fun.  We went out to dinner and then went shopping.  After we came home, got in our jammies, and watch Little Women.  I love having girls and doing these fun nights together!

 When the guys came home we had fun breaking up some of the Geo's and finding beautiful crystals inside.

 Jason found a new pet while away.  We caught this lizard and brought him home.  He is actually a really pretty lizard and we named him Leo.  He is still alive and living in our back yard.

Eliza loved all the topaz the boys brought home.  It was a really fun weekend spent doing guy and girl activites but, after we sure are happy to be all together again.

Living My Dream!

 I remember being a little girl and loving my dolls.  They were real to me and I took care of them like they were real.  I made them a pretend breakfast every morning and changed their outfits.  If our family went on a vacation I had my best friend Jenny watch my dolls while we were away.  I guess I was a little over the top but, from my youngest years I wanted to be a Mom.   So, being the Mom to these amazing kids is my dream and dreams do come true!

The other night Mike was tucking Anne in bed.  Anne is a very smart and bright girl and Mike was asking her what she wanted to do when she was older.  Did she want to be a nurse or doctor?  Did she want to be a teacher or a dancer?  She sat there and told Mike that she didn't know.  Then as he was leaving she said. "Actually Dad I really want to be a Mom."  This comment makes me so happy but, I then think about my 3 girls.  Will they have the opportunity to be a Mother?  What does life hold for each of them as women?  I pray that their dreams of being a mother will happen.  That each of them will be able to find a strong, wonderful husband like their Dad.  I hope as their mother I can teach them about being kind and gentle but, also strong and valiant.  I hope they always know that no matter what happens in this life their role as a mother is eternal and never ends.  It's our divine nature to be mothers!

So, I find so much joy in this calling!  I have been given a lot and know that much is required from me to raise these kids in these last days.  I can't wait to watch each of my girls become mothers and watch the cycle continue.

 I had a wonderful mother's day with lots of cards, hugs and kisses, and breakfast made for me!

 We stopped by to see Grandma Schwitzer.  She is a wonderful Mother and Grand-Mother.  Our lives have been greatly blessed by her example.

We had Mother's Day dinner with the Young's.  I was so happy to spend time with my Mom.  She has taught me so much about being a mother and I am grateful to have her as my Mom!

Choir Concert

 Jason has been in the school choir this year.  They had their end of year concert and it was really cute.  Jason enjoyed the choir but, he said he is happy to be done with it for this year.  He had to go to school an hour early each week even when he was off track.  So, we will have to see if the sting of this year will hold over to next year.

 He had a speaking part and did that great!  I was sitting in the worst spot and a lady's head kept moving and getting in the pictures.  Sorry Jason!

A Reunion!

 My favorite cousins in the whole world were all in town so, we had to all get together and catch up.  We had almost all the original cousins there except Brad, who was out of town.  We always have so much fun catching up and I loving seeing my cousins kids.  I also love talking to my Aunt Mary.  She always has such fun stories, and is just fun to talk to.  We got together for dinner at our home, and just hung out and let the kids play.

 Here is Elizabeth's Emma... isn't she so cute!?

 Here is the picture of all the ladies and some babies.

These guys have to stick together with all the girls around.  We had such a great night being together!  I can't wait to do it again!