Random

Every once in a while I have to do a random post to get in all the everyday pictures.  Life has been a little crazy lately and here is why:
I do fun things.  Brynlee and Teddy are pretty independent and I'm trying to keep them entertained during the summer without school.  We have done letter packets, devotionals and a hands on/experimenting project everyday.  I try to get out too and go on hikes or walks.

 Brynlee is good at stopping me with my driven attitude to accomplish my list and live life!  I love some of our random pictures she asks for.

 I was called to be the Relief Society President and wow has it been eye opening.  What they say is true, you will feel enormous amounts of blessings within your family if you can learn the act of balancing.  It is hard to put my relationship with God first, Devin second, kids third and my responsibilites as a mom/wife/sister/daughter next.  Then my calling.  I can never finish my calling and do everything.  There are days I feel like I crossed off my list but there is always a visit I should do or a phone call the spirit is prompting me to do.  I'm trying my best to keep up and learning too much about my weaknesses and strengths.  I've learned to not let this calling change my personality.  This is a picture of our visiting teaching conference which was a hit.  We had a nice dinner, musical number, talk and fun game.

 Saturdays are family days.  I prepare all week to have my chores done for Sunday and Saturday so we can go on road trips or camping or riding.  This particular time we paid 20$ to catch no fish.  But it was still a fun time with family and friends!  And gorgeous weather!

 This is Devin's favorite shovel.  (In light of this being a random post!)

 I have fallen in love all over again with gardening.  I just love it.  No this particular planter is currently dead in my backyard.  Each state I've lived in I've learned a little more.  Here you garden and flower in spring, then it dies and then you plant again in fall for a second season.  It is expensive.  I think I can keep my big pots alive during the summer but all my small ones have died.  Our garden on the other hand is doing awesome.  I'm a big fan of drip system now!

 I really look forward to my presidency meetings.  I love my presidency and everything they bring to the  table, pun intended.  It is stressful to prepare for them but after, when all the assignments are made, it feels so good!  Sure love our delicious food we eat during our meetings too!

 I'm still always trying new foods.  This was my first whole chicken from scratch.  I just inputed over 200 recipes from the last 2 years and love my stock pile of them.  It is my passion and cooking is my me time and my peace!

 I just love this boy!  Especially his morning smile!

 And his shower faces!  He sat in the shower just standing there letting the water run on him for 15 mins.  It was hilarious.  He is so cute right now when he talks.  You can just barely understand what he is saying.  He loves to make people laugh and is quick to throw a fit when he can't get what he feels out.  It's usually solved immediately with a hug.  I'm finally learning his physical love language!!!  Brynlee is completely verbal so it is quite the switch for me.

 This was taken at a friend's piano recital.  I have 11 piano students right now and I love every single one of them.  They all work so hard and progress so fast that it is so fun.  It is a great creative outlet for me too with the semester incentives.  I can't wait to catch up this summer and get ready for our new year starting this fall!

 This was Brynlee's first attempt at spelling more than just one word.  It says PPBSSPSPL.  It is suppose to say peace, be still.  It was from her primary lesson.

 For my birthday I went with some friends up to TOFW and to say I had a blast is an understatement!  We stayed up so late laughing and I got so much out of the talks.  It was really refreshing and i"m so glad I went.  Thank you Devin!  He took the kids to a distant cousin's funeral 6 hours away by himself and met his dad in phx and played.

 They have crazy dust devils here.  This was miles high coming into town.

 Callen finally went through a whole grocery store trip without crying so I rewarded him and he rewarded me by getting chocolate all over my car, his clothes and face.

 I have been really good at running.  I got new running shoes.  I'm pretty good at going about 4 times a week for 2 miles.  If I keep that up then my back is pain free.