a little answer to prayer.

Last weekend we all went to the temple so Bry & I could take turns going in to do temple work. It was so nice to be there doing temple work for two of Bry's ancestors (thanks to his Dad sending us a few names!) and for some friends' ancestors as well.  Plus, I just love the peace and calm I feel while I'm there.

I have to admit that the calm dissipated quickly as I came out and Elijah greeted me with a blow out and the kids (having already been walking around outside with Bry for over an hour) were getting ancy.  Snack time in the car helped and then we strolled the temple grounds for a bit.  The weather was very nice considering how hot and humid it usually is in the middle of July, but it was still a little warm for my liking (sure lost the scarf as soon as I figured that one out).  I was snapping pictures of the flowers and kids when Alex announced that he had lost Lightning Mcqueen (when does this kid NOT lose his little car?!?! ;0)).  Of course it was lost in very tall and thick grass.  I was feeling a little frustrated, but had the thought to use this as a teaching moment.  I suggested to Alex that he pray to have help finding it.  He knelt down on the cement bench and offered a little prayer then we all started looking.  Within a minute or so Alex excitedly pulled the car out of the grass!  What a loving Heavenly Father we have, interested in His little 2 year old boy who is looking for his favorite car...and concerned about His daughter who is trying to keep it together.  God is good.  We then said a little prayer of thanks.  (I'm trying to be better at that, thanking Heavenly Father for His help and blessings and not just asking for them.)  It was a sweet moment in the shade, before we found ourselves strolling in the sun, sweaty...and Alex stampeding the flower beds as we went.  So representative of how life is around here.  Lots of tantrums, meltdowns, whining and messes (by me & the kids ;0)) punctuated with sweet and joyful moments.  Recording these things, in part, is me trying to hold on to the good times.  Otherwise I feel like I'm floundering just trying to stay afloat, and forget how blessed I am!

time with the Cousins.

As part of Alan & Liz's amazing Summer cross country road trip, they spent a few weeks in St. Louis.  It's always a special treat to spend time with family, but especially when they come and visit us here!  As already mentioned we joined them for a BBQ on the 4th, did a joint Family Home Evening with an outing to Ted Drewe's, did a stay-at-home double date with Alan & Liz (which included Boggle, Quiddler AND Liz's delicious Death by Chocolate silk pie), and even snuck some shopping in there! (Thanks to Isabelle for watching the older kids, the babies being patient tag-alongs and Groupons for 50% off at Red Racks.)  I honestly had forgotten how fun it is to see the kiddos spend time with their cousins.  Thanks for the fun times!

See?

Remember how much Alex looked like me as a baby?  Well check this out...

That's Rach on the left and Elijah on the right.  Crazy, eh?  And for the record, when Lij smiles he reminds me SO much of my Uncle Todd and Aunt Lisa.

getting Alex up...

...from his nap is always amusing.  Yesterday the first thing he said (as I was unzipping his pea pod) was, "I"m eating boogers."  Lovely, Alex...just charming ;0)  The day before I was talking to my Mom on the phone, he held his Lightning Mcqueen up to the phone so she could "see" it and said, "Lightning Mcqueen took a nap."  When she suggested watching "Cars" next time we're in town he jumped up and shouted, "Yay!  Ka chow, ka chow!"  Right now as I type this, Alex is calling from his pea pod, "I have a hair in my mouth."  Poor kid, probably belongs to me.  Darn postpartum shedding.

Recently Alex has started saying, "Yeah, that's right."  Like when I was instructing him {again!} that we don't go in the parking lot because it's dangerous...he responded, "yeah, that's right."  A little later while we were talking he said, "If I do it again, I get another time out."  Sure do kiddo ;0)  Oh he kills me!  The other day he was wiggling around on his bed and giggling while I was helping Bry get him ready for bed.  I blurted out, "You are just so alive!"  Boy is it true; he is SO full of life!  I feel like I constantly have to be on my guard with him (he keeps me on my toes AND on my knees...praying for help ;0)), but for the life of me I am trying so hard to not be as uptight.  He is too funny and says the darndest things and I don't want to let that pass me by because of my crankiness.  Keep it up Alex, crazy, full of life and all...and I'll do my best to smile.  We love you :0)

according to my iPhone, 2.

Grant's Farm.

Picnic dinner.

My handsome boys :0)

Lots of braids going on over here, thanks to good ol' postpartum shedding it's either that or pony tails.

Welcoming the Hintzes back after their 3 week vacation in Utah.  We missed them!

Shopping at Aldi with 3 cute kiddos in tow.  They really do a great job!

Oh my sweet snuggly little man.

Tea party with Brie.

Alex and Andrew Lee.  Boys are so funny!

First swim of the season.  I have yet to get in ;0)

Alex after creatively getting his onesie "off"

Laura says "popsicle?" and she
 gets a flock of baby birds ;0)

more braids...and lots of hat days.

Going on a stroll with Ruth Anne
 when she came to visit.

Brie decided to do a thank you present for Sarah & Suzanne and the maintenance guys.  That sweet girl!  She put stickers on each of the flowers on the bag, wrote them a note and I baked some cookies to include.

Off to the complex pool party...gift bag in hand.

Brie's first time riding a bike.  Too bad we had to take the helmet back to Aldi after realizing it didn't fit right.  We have yet to buy another one.  They're expensive!

Alex falling asleep on the
 living room floor after church.

Julie & I making a walnut {& strawberry} cream roll.  Yum.  And so fun!

No wonder I don't like to hang my clothes up in the closet.  Can we say hard to get to?!

Mini nap with Lij.

Oh he just looks so handsome and sweet in that little yellow outfit from Em.

Brie taking pictures with my camera.

A cheesy little card I gave to Bry to open at Scout Camp.

Lion's Choice custard cones thanks to Rach & Starla's $1 in the mail :0)

Apparently Alex's high chair was a little too close to Lij's bouncer.

our SWEET neighbor Elizabeth (after making a quilt for her daughter) made Oinky a darling little quilt.

Sweet Bry & Lij.

I'm a proud Grandma ;0)

Kiddos attempting to climb a tree.

At the Muny with Bry. LOVE that it looks like I'm wearing an eye patch ;0)

Family outing to the Zoo on a Saturday morning?  Yeah right.  It was a zoo just trying to find parking in Forest Park.  Good thing Bry is patient and knows how to roll with the punches....

Plan B: running around in a random field, turned out great!  Good ol' fashion fun :0)

Ready for Victor's birthday party...

the man of the hour, the big FOUR.

Bry enterntaining Lij, probably while I ate dinner.

Love those little baby rolls.

Elijah's award-winning smile :0)

Laurie & Lij.  Her second time seeing him.  She was one of the few people that got to hold him in the hospital.

Brie & Alex waiting for breakfast, fending for themselves while I nursed Elijah...eating Dad's almonds on his desk.

Brie taking pictures of Oinky.

Sweet boy fell asleep waiting for the rest of us to get dressed and ready for the day.

One rainy day!  After grocery shopping I decided to take a detour and drive through the cemetery behind our place...so green and beautiful.

We stopped at the pond, ate graham crackers and listened to the rain fall on the van roof.  A much needed respite from a hard morning.

I could just eat him!

Brie writing a postcard to Rach & Starla.  Love her self portrait AND love how much she loves to draw!

A recent tea party, table setting by Brie.

Enjoying the GORGEOUS weather on the 4th of July.

Lij passing out after breakfast in bed.  A rare happening and so sweet.

Adam & Alex playing outside...just love the trees TOWERING over those cute little boys.

Maya patiently chilling while Liz and I sorted through bins at the Outlet.

A thoughtful package from Ruth Anne.

Hmm, just a little too small for you Alex.  Crazy to think that used to be his corner.

I think Elijah looks SO much like Rachel here.

I attempted making a pasta salad for a 4th of July BBQ, didn't turn out so I made another.  Needless to say we were eating pasta salad for three days and were happy when we finished it off ;0)

Yogurt parfait in bed, thanks to my dear, sweet Bry.  He sure takes AMAZING care of me and the kiddos.

Brie & Alex watching "Curious George" after nap time.  If they've earned it, they frequently watch a show while I get dinner ready.  Not sure how I would do it otherwise.  Win-win.

 Brie's new jammies I got at Red Racks only $2 later!

 :0)

 Considering what he looked like 5 minutes after putting this onesie on, his little sign should have said "EAT MOR PAPR"  I don't know what I was thinking putting paper cut outs in reach of a teething baby ;0)

 Us and the Hintzes (-Jon) looking udderly ridiculous,
but ready for some FREE food at Chick-Fil-A :0)

 Getting ready for Heather's super hero comic book baby shower.  Many an hour has been spent.  (Why do I have to be OCD about projects I undertake?)  In any case Brie and I have enjoyed working on it together!

 I love that Brie snagged one of my tins of flowers to spruce up her corner kitchen :0)

 Righter after running into the piano :0(

Brie put this bow tie on Alex.  Doesn't match, but still think he looks so handsome :0)

As always, it's fun for me to look through our life as of late.  It's been a rocky road for me as a mother of three, but I can NOT overlook all of the sweet, fun, joyful moments as well.