Is it summer yet?

As I have always been taught that trials only make us stronger, I find myself afraid to ask the question, "How much more?" I am afraid because I don't feel like I can handle much more. In the last year, every time I "survive" a tough time, right around the corner seems like another one just waiting. I don't want to sound like I am complaining (but I am) and I know that everyone has their own battles that they are fighting, but when is the stress going to be lifted from me? I said something today to a friend of mine, I said, "Sometimes I wish I could just go back to my life as a stay at home mom. Things were simple, life was easy, I had less stress." Hopefully I am not offending anyone out there, but I do yearn for those days when all I stressed about was what I was making for dinner, getting the laundry done, paying the bills, finishing my crafts, getting kids ready for school, taking care of kids, walking in the mornings with Lucinda, mopping twice a week, deep clean, magnify my calling, taking kids to baseball and dance, and grocery shopping. Now I get to still stress out about all of those things above, plus work full time which requires me to leave my house at 6:30 in the morning and returning at 5:00 on a good day. I am grateful that I have the opportunity to stay at home with my children for 8 years, but life is ever changing... now I get to be grateful that I have been blessed with the opportunity to get an education, work (with so many out of a job, I hate to say that I am not grateful for mine:) and to have a job that allows me to still spend time with my kids. I am getting to a place now where I am ready for summer I guess... teaching is like being pregnant, at first I get so excited about what to look forward too, new kids, new year, and by the end of the nine months I just want it to be over with. AIMS is next week, and things just get really stressful around campus. I just have to let it go...

Train Tracks...

Colby finally gets braces! Here are so funny photos that I took of him today... I have never kissed a boy with braces before... we are going to be like two teenagers because I get mine put on this summer! Craziness!

Sedona Getaway

We went out of town for the weekend to Sedona... it was so much fun. I really loved being with Colby and having no worries... it was an awesome. I am so thankful that my mom took the kids for the weekend. I am so lucky to have her as my mom. We ate everything in sight, Colby ordered duck at this restaurant and he loved it. Colby and I had such a good time... we are going to go on more weekend getaways!

Here is a picture of me with all of my treasures from a thrift store!

Colby and Robbie

The bikes loaded up and ready!

Marley's 7th Birthday

Well this is way over due, but I haven't had anytime to get this done. Marley turned 7 years old exactly one week ago today. It is amazing to me how time has just flown by. She is the brightest kid I know and she will agree with me. She is so intelligent and wise for her age. She loves to dance and sing. Her nickname is midget since she is the smallest kid in her class... she is often mistaken for a 5 year old, which makes her very angry. But regardless of her size, she is mighty. She is so excited that she has one year before she gets baptized. It doesn't seem possible that 7 years ago I was giving birth to my last child... but it has. I can't imagine our family without our Little Miss Marley. She got a new bike that she has been practicing riding... it is so funny to listen to her talk to herself... she says things like, "Okay, all I need to focus on is my balance." I think to myself, I wish some adults can have personal dialogue with themselves the way Marley does. We would live in happier world. She is such a doll and I feel lucky that the Lord trusted me to raise such an awesome little girl.

Disappointments...

Well now that I am 30 years old, I would have to say I am not new at being let down. Not many of you know, but we made an offer on a house close to my work. The realitor said we had a really good chance, but as it turns out there was a better offer. What a disappointment! I really thought we had it... I mean, I was putting an offer for the first time on a house and I was at ease about the whole thing. I thought that it meant that I was doing the right thing and the house was meant for the Holt Family, but it just wasn't in the plan. Now back to the drawing board, looking for another house...