Yay, the Osborns came to visit.

Future boyfriend and girlfriend?...they are already holding hands. :D
What dolls. I love their faces! Note the hair --she has a lot; he has a little.
The funny two year olds! Again, note the difference in hair -my kid, again, has none.

Yesterday, I finally got to see my best friend Brittany and her family! She was due to visit in July -and be around for a while. But, due to an unfortunate and sad situation, she had to hurry to Utah earlier than planned, and wasn't able to visit as long. (I drove out to her in-laws house to see her.) Though I only got to see her for about five hours, it was great to see her and her family. I just love how comfortable things are with her. She is just the best friend I think I've had, outside my family, 'cause she feels like family to me.

Kade and Libby were just to cute. I am so glad we got to meet each others' babies. Libby has the chubbiest thighs I have ever seen, on a four month old. The pictures don't do them justice! She was funny and would smile at her auntie Holly. I loved it. What a doll. I covet her hair for my boys!!

Malachi and Ben got along so well! A year ago, the last time they played, they weren't too sure if they liked each other. But, this time, they had a blast for the most part. They wrestled and chased each other. They shared toys -kinda- and just were awesome.

Ben has been asking for Malachi and Brittany all day today. I can't wait for the next time we'll get to visit. We'll have to make it a week long event or something! Good times.

Too Funny!

Nothing needs to be said.

Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Halleluuuuuuuujah!!!!

We are now the proud owners of a front yard!!! We've been wanting it for a long time. (It's kinda hard for the hubby to do yard stuff when summer comes early and he's out on fires.) This year we got to it! And, all I can say is Hallelujah. I hear that song in my head when I look at the grass.

Joe started out laying the sod by himself....then I came out to help, then a kid showed up, then another (they were boy scouts in our ward, coming to earn more money for camp).....then the Elder Quorum Pres. came, then the Bishop (who is our neighbor) and by the time I left and came back with refreshments...there were six boys total, and five men total. And, then there was Ben throwing rocks in rain puddles and following the scouts around.

We appreciated the service, and gladly paid the boys some moola for their camp. And, only an hour and a half from the time the guy delivered the sod, we had it all finished and were eating donuts. I cannot say how happy I am the have this grass........it's Christmas to me. Ben can now run around outside all day --this yard is like a football field to him. I am soooooo happy.

Thanks Joe for the time and effort put into the whole thing! I know how hard you worked and I appreciate it!!! It looks so awesome. We are now officially old people who sit out and just stare at our yard. (We gotta get some rocking chairs.)

Aw, Our Boys.

My friend Brittany posted pics of her cute kids to see their differences and similarities. I liked the idea -so I stole it. ;D I remembered I had a picture of Ben in this shirt, so when Kade wore it the other day I snapped a picture of him in it. What do you think? They're not the best pictures in the world to compare with, but I thought they looked okay. I cannot believe Ben was ever 4 months--and I can't picture Kade ever being 2 and 1/2.

Our Little Reader.

Ben LOVES to read and I have tried to remember to get he camera out and capture him in the act. He "reads all the time and I love that he loves to read.

We've read to him since day one, and now it's probably his favorite pass time. Also, I am grateful that he sees Joe reading all the time, as an example for him to follow.

It is proving harder to sit and read the same way with Kade....But ,I am working on it, and hopefully he'll develop the same love for reading that Ben has. (P.S. I promise he doesn't always just wear pajamas....he's dressed in pj's in all of these pics. I think I just get the camera out in the morning or evening.....'cause I do dress him. Really :D )

Random Pics of the Boys.

These are just a few recent pictures of the boys. Ben Loves playing in the dirt---that is our front yard. Grass coming soon. And, Kade is just gettin' bigger everyday. They are just cute little guys and are just fun to post about. Hopefully, I'll get posts on here more consistently.

Happy Mother's Day!!

I had a great Mother's Day. Here is a pic of my gifts from Joe and the boys, and from the ward.
Ben gave me a CUTE card that he colored on. He also made the cookie flowers in nursery. They said, "If mothers were flowers, I'd pick you." :D So cute. The ward gave the little potted plant and a little book.
Joe gave me a card and a massage gift certificate --I can't wait to go redeem it. Mmmmm Massage-(say in Homer Simpson voice.)And, Joe gave me the two things of dark chocolate candy. Whoohoo! So, good. The roses were from all the boys. I'm guessing one from each of 'em. (Joe says everything is technically from all of them -except that I got a "wife" card and a "mom" card).

The talks at church were great, lunch was good and easy. The day so far had just been great. I feel very lucky to be a mom. I can't say enough of what I feel. (I'm sure you all know what I mean.) I know I have been blessed and am very lucky to have all that I have.

I just want to say thanks to all you mothers that have influenced my life. My mom, big sister and sisters in-law. My best friend Britt and all the "lunch club" ladies. I have learned so much from all of you women. Thanks, and I hope you all had a great Mother's Day!!

Kade in Action.

Here's Kader-Bum. He is so fat and so cute. He has gotten so big this past month. In the second clip he is tooting, you can kind of hear it, on the camera, over the background noise. He's smiling and just too cute. I can't believe how big he's gotten so fast.

In the first clip he's talking a little, so you can hear his voice. He has become a little chatter box these days. He babbles all day! He is so fun and such a good little baby.

Ben Singing...Again.

This morning Ben was signing as I was getting his breakfast. I asked him if he'd want to sing for the camera. He said, "Sure." No bribing necessary. So here we go. He had just woken up, he has goofy bed-head, his pajamas on, and is still holding his best friend "George" (who he sleeps with every night), so it's as real as it gets. He knows about seven primary songs, or so, so these singing clips could be regular additions. Enjoy.

The Ben and Kade Show.

This was originally going to be a video clip of Kade, but Ben couldn't resist getting in on the attention. So, it is now mostly Ben, with Kade in the back ground. :D

Ben had been singing a little all evening, so I asked him to sing for the camera. He did for a minute and then ran around with the song unfinished......so, I did what a lot of us do...I bribed him with candy. :)

The basket ball game was on, so that's what he's watching the whole time. He's funny.They both are so awesome to me. Enjoy.

Hawaiian Shirts and a Luau.

This past weekend, our family went to a birthday luau. Kai, our friends Megan and Kaleo's little girl, turned one! The luau theme gave me an excuse to buy Kade a Hawaiian shirt and some little shorts; Ben already had a Hawaiian shirt -from Aunt Wendy-. The boys were cute and the party was fun! I'm glad Joe could go for added help with the boys; otherwise, I don't think I could have made it.

So, here's a few pics we took before the party. I wish you could see Ben's shirt, but the print is mainly on the back anyway. I love these boys! They are just too much fun........minus the tantrum times, and I love posting their pictures.

In the last pic, I was trying to get Ben to pose with Kai (she had just gotten done with her cake-thus the nakedness ;D ) and Ben kept pushing her out of his way. Poor Kai. :) Ben was late for his nap, and not about to pose for anything. Like Megan said, "it's funny when you get a picture of kids being real." He's being real alright. :)

Ode To Joe!

I have collected some pics of Joe and the boys for awhile, and just have to say, I've got one great husband. He is an attentive dad, for sure. I've said it a million times before, the boys are lucky to have such an awesome dad. It's obvious to see why they love him so much.
I've also said a million times before, that I knew I wanted to marry Joe, when I knew I wanted my boys (if I had any) to be just like him. Well, I got boys, and I still want Ben and Kade to grow up to be like their dad. (except I'll teach them to give compliments more ;D wink-wink). He is strong and kind, funny, disciplined, talented and just too good lookin'. (And, as I am blogging this, he is actually cleaning the house, for company! Whoohoo.)

Hanging' Out With Dadda.

CRAZINESS!

Joe and I were looking through some old family photos on the computer, and we came across this little jewel. Can you even believe it?! Ben was really this small and looked like this?! Their looks change so gradually --duh, 'cause you see them every day....better yet, every second of every day. So, when you go back and see pictures like this one it's hard to fathom!

His teeth weren't all there, his features weren't as defined and he looks so short. I cannot believe how time flies. I say it all the time, but it really still takes me by surprise. Oh, I miss those days, of hardly any tantrums and very little objections to our requests. :D But, alas, he's a two year old and soon I'll be looking back at this age and missing it. "Live in the moment." That is really all we can do. :D

Answers To Prayers

As I often do, I prayed before this conference to hear something I needed to hear. I had actually been --almost desperately-- praying for something spoken especially to me; I wanted something so badly. And, I got what I had asked for.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Elder M. Russell Ballard for the talk for young mothers. I needed to hear so much of what he said, about raising young children.

I am grateful for his advice to live more in the moment, to "get less done", so we won't be overwhelmed. I was so grateful to hear him validate my job as a mother as being hard and for him acknowledging the frustration, insecurities, and exhaustion that come with it. I was grateful for his praise for trying to raise children correctly, and I appreciated him reminding me that there is "no one correct way" to raise good kids.

As a mother, I often doubt myself and wonder if I have done what is right for my children. I pray every night to be a better mother tomorrow than I was today --because by the end of the day I add up all my mistakes and plead desperately for the ability to be better tomorrow for my children's' sake.

I felt our Heavenly Father's love for me in my calling as a mother, and I know that He was directly answering my prayers for "something" just for me. I had to mention this moment of spiritual uplift with you other mothers --I'm sure I wasn't the only one who was touched my Elder Ballard's words. I am grateful for all you women who have been great examples to me of being good mothers. Thank you!

I just love our Father in Heaven for knowing me personally and for answering my prayers. I just had to write and not let this moment pass without expressing how I feel.