Journey to Judea

One of my favorite traditions each year is going to Journey to Judea. This year Daddy was sick and he offered to go, but he was better at home. So I loaded up a two week old Redd and Duke, E and I went. It was wonderful!

The weather was nice, the program changed a little bit which was fun.

But the best part was exposing my children to the story of our Savior in a real way they can feel. 

I love that this program is the beginning of the holiday season. that we can start off the month with the true meaning of Christmas. 

This baby makes me feel that much closer to our Savior. He came to earth so tiny and small. Perfect beyond measure. 

Let the season begin. He is the Light!

30th Birthday

E came outside and took a few pictures of me for my 30th birthday. She was a funny little photographer telling me to move to the left or to say cheese. 100% her Mama's girl. For my 30th birthday we didn't do anything really exciting. Jakob went to work, the kids went to school, and I snuggled some babies. Jakob tried to buy me a nice take out dinner and I turned him down since we had a ton of leftovers in the fridge. We had a cake that my friend brought over so Jakob didn't even have to make me one and you know what?? It was PERFECT!

People keep asking if I am ready to turn the big 3-0 and if I'm being honest, I totally am! I feel like I have earned 30. I have 4 beautiful children, I've been married 10 years, we have a house and I am so beyond happy with where we are in life. This is the life I prayed for and gosh darn it, it is good.

So here are a few nuggets I've learned about myself and life in my 30 years:

1. Embrace the chaos. Messes and chaos fuel laughter and 9 times out of 10 it is 10000% worth the clean up. 
2. It's okay to take me days, just make sure you get back to work the following day.
3. Your children grow up way to fast, each stage passes by in a blink and there are good and bad sides to every stage. Savor each one.
4. "As long as you keep serving one another, everything will be fine." - Opa Zapf
5. There will never be an end to laundry. Just keep washing.
6. I am a total homebody who wants to go out and have fun at the same time. It doesn't make sense, even to myself I crave adventures, but I really like snuggling at home too.
7. The Church is true.
8. Take all the pictures and keep blogging! One of our favorite family activity is looking through the kids pictures when they were small. They love to hear the stories and see how little they were. My memory is terrible and I'm so thankful I have kept a journal, quote books and this blog to help me remember. 
9. Cooking is slowly becoming fun for me. There is a season and I feel like I miiiiiiight finally be turning the corner.
10. Family is everything. Sacrifice all that you can to be with them.

I made a 30 before I'm 30 bucket list and I wasn't even close to completing everything on there but here are a few things I did do:

1. Complete our family.
2. 30 acts of service (I wrote 10 down and then stopped, wish I would have kept recording.)
3. All girls trip (twice)
4. Paint a picture to hang in the house.
5. Take our children to Disneyland
6. Go on a family vacation.
7. Try 30 new recipes.
8. Decorate an entire room the way I want.
9. Print out photo books of the children.
10. Sew Mama and Mini Dresses with E.
11. Go to a Chiefs game.
12. Make some pottery.
13. Read the Book of Mormon. (for the very first time!!)
14. Catch a fish.
15. Learn to whistle.

 Here are some pictures from my day. Horris and Borris holding my balloons my be the cutest thing ever!

 Some treats from my ministering brother.

 From my ministering sister.

 Spoiled! Jakob got me a flash for my camera and I am SO EXCITED!!!!!! I can't wait to take more pictures! :)

Cheers to the next 10 years! My goals are pretty simple, streamline, be myself and be more present. I'm not perfect and that is okay, as long as I'm trying. 30 feels good friends!

Newborn Pictures

We made two attempts at newborn photos. the first Redd was AWAKE! Bright eyed and bushy tailed and he wasn't the biggest fan of Mama snapping pictures of him. The second time, he was better and we got some really cute ones. So here we go. Here are way too many pictures of this perfect little baby and I don't even feel bad about it. 

He has the most square ears and I love them!

He also has a double crown and a perfect swirl on the right side of his head. Styling his hair is going to be a nightmare but I am obsessed with that little swirl.