March Moments

Best moments from the last few weeks... 

An adorable sleeping baby holding on to his crib.

Conrad's "I love you" strawberry, and his new gap-toothed smile. 

Watching Orson work on the farm feeding baby goats, filling water troughs, and milking goats in his bucket hat that he loves. 

The delicious cake Lenora made as part of school (then insisted on photographing). Maybe she has a future as a food blogger? 

And this sweet picture Alicia captured of her with a rolly-polly. 

The cute pictures I find of this girly on my phone (even though they're usually accompanied by pictures of Ember or a chicken).

Watching Hazel read the full version of Les Miserable (skipping the long-winded parts of course) and her cute outfit for the corresponding book club. 

Watching this awesome man take it upon himself to learn more car repair skills from YouTube.

Happy Birthday Walter!

Everyone's favorite baby turned one last month! How did the past year fly by so quickly?!? Walter, you've grown and learned SO much. 

We started your birthday celebrations with waffles, strawberries, and whipped cream. You're learning to love food, so you were really excited! Too bad Mom wouldn't let you touch the candle. It's my party - I'll cry if I want to. 

Presents were a pretty big hit though. The kids wrapped up various teddy bears and things they'd like you to have. Mom and Dad got you a carseat, some new clothes, and peach cups. Is it obvious that you're the sixth child? Yes. Were you sad about it? Not even a little bit! 

Gram came through with some awesome sand toys that you love! 

And Aunt Jamie found you the coolest shoes. Hopefully you learn to like those. So far, you're not a big fan. 

You loved your cake! 

Something you often try to do is share. You like to share your food, your toys, and even your binky. In fact, if we don't take something you're trying to share you get sad and cry.

You LOVE Daddy! Something unique is how well you seem to understand that you should sign with Daddy. You love to sign babble long stories to him, and he loves each one!

You also LOVE watching the big kids. You have a front row seat to so many different kids, older kids, and teenagers. They all adore you, and you adore them. What a lucky baby to grow up seeing so much of life. Almost nothing surprises you. You tend to just go with the flow. 

Of course you LOVE Mommy! You've mostly weaned yourself. In fact, you really only nurse in the evenings. If we're out of the house, you're sure to fall asleep in the carrier snuggled up by Mommy. 

You LOVE life! You're usually all smiles and giggles. You love people and are usually happy to get passed around. You love when people play with you, especially outside.

You LOVE baths and bubbles. You just learned to sign bubble and make the "ba-ba" mouth motion every time you sign it. It is so cute. 

You LOVE animals especially "Lizzy" (aka Ember the bearded dragon).  You like trying to pet Hailey and watching the chickens out the kitchen window. 

What don't you like? Mostly you just don't like being tired or hungry. You also don't like going to bed without your binky and Lamby. 

You're doing so much more every day. You're talking more. One of your favorite things to say is "I did it!" You're also signing a ton. Your favorite sign is definitely "Dada" followed closely by "I love you." 

About two weeks after your birthday you started walking! 

We honestly can't imagine our family without you. This past year with a newborn and teenagers has been a unique challenge, but it's be SO wonderful! All of us have gotten the joy of watching you learn and grow, and we all love you so much.Happy Birthday Walter! 

Family Ski Day!

We finally got all the kids up skiing! The kids said this was the best Christmas gift ever, and I have to agree. We all enjoyed our two days of skiing at Nordic Valley (such a great and affordable family ski area!) along with a night in a cute mountain AirBnB. Highlights of the trip included: 

Getting Hazel up skiing for the first time since she was 5. After a rough first run, she figured it out and loves it!  Also, she didn't (barely) didn't hit a tree - whew.

Seeing Conrad figure out skiing too. He was so cute going up the magic carpet and down the bunny hill time after time on his own. By the end of the day, he was doing great! Both he and Hazel will be ready for blue runs next time. 

Having Daddy join us! He snowboarded, but decided he'll ski next time. He says he's getting too old for snowboarding. It's only taken 17 years, but I've converted him! 

Watching Eliza help out. We had Walter with us so Michael and I were trading off on the mountain. Eliza was so great about taking Orson and Lenora, or Conrad with her. After a morning of helping those around her on the green runs, she and I slipped away for a few harder runs and had a blast. She's a great skiing buddy. 

Having Grandpa join us for the second day! 

Great views with all my favorite people. 

And for all of our entertainment on the way home, Walter brought his cutest faces. 

Mornings with My Boys

Mornings are for spending time with my boys. Often, Walter will wake up about 5:30-6. I'll bring him in to our bed to nurse and we'll both fall back to sleep. Orson is faithfully awake by 6:30 in the morning when he'll also come snuggle in our bed. Walter either stays asleep peacefully or wakes up and tries to climb all over us and claw off our faces. Soon enough, Orson grabs him and they go play in the school room while I sleep/relax a few more minutes. On seminary days, I sneak away to drop off Hazel while Orson plays with Walter and the rest of the house sleeps on. Isn't that the sweetest!?!

Once I'm home, I get to spend some quiet time with the boys. At some point Conrad wakes up to join us (after he gets a morning snack of course because that boy can't live without constant nourishment haha!)

Orson reminds me every morning we need to read scriptures, so the two of us snuggle up on the couch and read a chapter from the Book of Mormon. Then the boys goof off and play while I read scriptures on my own (and pick up Hazel). I love these slow, not so quiet, mornings with my boys. They're fun and wild and sweet and crazy and caring and a handful all in a single minute. 

Sing the Phone Book

The Friday before Easter, Hazel's choir gave a Good Friday concert. As always, they were absolutely stunning. One of their new songs is an adaptation of a poem found carved on the wall of a concentration camp after WWII. It's hauntingly beautiful and such a wonderful testimony: 

I believe in the sun even when it's not shinning. 

I believe in love even when I don't feel it. 

I believe in God! I believe in God even when He is silent. 

As a chatted with the woman next to me, she raved about the choir and how they sing like angels. She said, "They could sing the phone book and it would be amazing!" I couldn't agree more. 

I love that Hazel gets to sing these truths weekly. I also love that these kids are SO much fun, and that Hazel has so many great friends at choir. 

Moments and Memories

I have a love/hate relationship with our blog. I LOVE looking back and re-reading posts. I love the memories, the stories preserved, and the way I can see the Lord's hand weaving in and out of our lives. But, I hate trying to stay on top of the blog. I sometimes get hung up on a post because I struggle to put things in to words or I'm trying to gather the right pictures. While I'm waiting to finish a post, I feel like I can't post something else for fear of ruining the order and soon I'm weeks or months behind. 

So, I'm liberating myself from all blog stress and guilt. No longer will out blog be like the large plates of Nephi - a greater record of our history with all the stories, trips, etc. Our blog will now be like the small plates of Nephi - a place for our most precious moments and memories. A place where I can record the things I don't want to forget and which will be most meaningful for my children someday. I'm so excited! 

Without further ado, some of our best recent moments and memories... 

One night at dinner, Michael cooked something Walter loved. He paused eating to clearly sign "thank you Daddy."

On Valentine's Day, Orson - ever my early bird - was up at the crack of dawn telling me I couldn't come in to the school room. Before I knew it, he had placed this on my dresser. He painstakingly cut from chicken wire "I Love You Mome." I have know idea what gave him the idea, but it is by far the best Valentine I've ever received. Thanks Orson! 

Walter now has a name sign! Michael realized how much he loves fires, so he combined the sign for fire with a W to make a really cool, unique name sign for him. I love it, and I think he will too!

Last, but not least, is there anything more wonderful than a sleeping baby? This boy is such a joy in our home! I feel incredibly blessed to have him. I'm grateful for the prompting that someone was missing and the courage to welcome another sweet soul in to our family. It's been hard at times, but it's also been so, so wonderful. 

1,000 hours outside, take three

The past two years, we've set a goal to spend 1,000 hours outside. With being pregnant in 2022 and having a new baby in 2023, we've only made it to 850-900 hours each year. These have still been wins in my book because that's way more time outside than we might have spent otherwise! But this year, I'm determined to make it all the way to 1,000. Nothing lifts our moods, aids our exercise, burns off excess energy, drives away the grumpies, or brings us together like time outside. Already we've had some wonderful adventures this year.... 

How do we do it with Walter? We dress him for the weather and bring him along. He LOVES the outdoors and is always calm and relaxed in nature (as long as he's not cold). 

Forest School is always a favorite way to get outside. 

One Sunday before church we visited a park in Provo that the girls used to love when they were little and we lived there. As we walked up, the ducks mobbed us looking for food. 

Michael and Orson got to enjoy some time shooting. He says Orson's getting really good! This is the first time he's shot standing up. 

Walter LOVES to eat snow. 

Another Sunday we built the cutest snowman! 

We found Hazel's street! 

And enjoyed the BEST way to spend time outside in the winter! 

One afternoon while the big girls were at book club I took the younger kids to the pond and we spotted a baby turtle! Can you see him in the water? Plus Mom and Dad on the roots?