A Day in the Life...

My Kota is a talker.  She chats and chats all day about Everything.  A few recent examples of her banter: Kota (upstairs in bed): Micah, come on, let's go downstairs. Tim and I (downstairs): "I think the twins are conspiring together..."  So we sneak closer and take a peek in, only to find Dakota talking in her sleep. The next day she talked in her sleep again... Kota:  "MOM!  Buckle your seatbelt." And again another night: Kota: "Where's your phone? I want to play a game." It's super funny.  She's even funnier when she's awake... Kota (coming downstairs looking pretty gloomy): Me: "Kota, what's wrong?" Kota: "Copper and Micah are stinkers... yeah they're killing me." Micah isn't near the chatterbox but cracks us up too.  The other night I told her I would sit by her until she fell asleep.  Summertime is hard... it's still light and they hear kids outside.  It was thrown us Way off wit...

82: Memorializing the grandparents.  It was a long walk to the cemetery but fun.  Copper dressed like a ninja pirate just in case the dead arose...    83:  Family night... Museum of Natural Curiosity at Thanksgiving Point 84:  It's an ice cream kind of night... 85: Part of our staycation weekend... a trip to the zoo! 86:  Part of our staycation weekend... Temple Square!

 67:  Copper and her babysitter Casi spent many hours coloring... here Copper drew a picture of our family.  She even labeled dad "Tim." 68:  Family night out to eat at Winger's, topped with ice-cream and a giant cookie! 69: Family night in... games! 70:  A trip to the new Museum of Natural Curiosity.  Copper's floating head!  71:  Taryn's birthday party at Jump On It!  What's better than a warehouse of trampolines? 72:  Mother's Day cards from 3 beautiful girls 73:  Copper planned Family Home Evening, including laying out this spread.  We talked about trucks, sticks, other words she can write, the temple, scriptures, and Tim and I getting married.  Perfect! 74:  Micah insisted on eating dinner with a ladle.  Two cups of noodles in a matter of minutes.  Then she threw up.  That's the unhappy part.  75:  My Kota and bathtime! 76:  My Copper graduated Talking Time!  We l...

 55: Our trampoline blew away.  Up and over the lilac bushes, and then some. It wasn't a happy time.  But... Micah was happy dad didn't blow away when he went outside to check it out. 56: Arbinger!  Training at work and at my work away from work (the school district). 57:  Thanksgiving Point with friends Lisa and Ethan 58: Family night out to get frozen yogurt  59: My Micah cracking us up with her funny faces 60: Family night making s'mores... kids not a fan... and Dakota wouldn't even try it... 61: Time for mom to read!  Never happens! 62:  My Copper practicing hard at soccer 63: Lunch with grandma! 64: Family night... wagon ride to the park 65:  Mom's night alone... do you hear the sweet sound of absolutely nothing? 66:  Wacky dinner attempt... face painting before the food is served.  Fail.  Micah wasn't about to let paint touch her.  Dakota liked it on her leg... for about two minutes.  Still happ...

Here's what I've been given for Mother's Day... Love it! Here's my thought on Mother's Day and Motherhood.  While it's nice to be acknowledged and appreciated and given a day of my own, it's not really a day of my own nor is it about me.  There are many people who are and have been mothers to me and to my girls.  I'm quite blessed to have such very strong, wonderful examples in my life.  Although, I sure like to pretend Mother's Day is all about me.   :) Look at these beauties. Dakota: determined, stubborn, persistent.  She knows what she wants!  She's a big chatter and loves to talk.  She's quick to figure out gadgets, games, and electronics.  She loves to read.  She drinks half a gallon of milk daily.  Geez.  She loves to swing high (in our harnessed chair only).  She doesn't like risky stuff and takes a while to decide to try something new.  She's so funny sometimes; for example, when I told her I neede...

47:  Egg Dying day! 48: Wacky Dinner Night... brought to you by the color orange.  Best we could do. 49: Two of my three nephews.  Boys are so cute. 50.  My Cops and her first love Purple Bear 51.  Copper's first soccer practice! 52.  Dakota saved a special present for the end of a very long and stressful day.  "Look Mom," as she showed me her arms and hands, and clothes, covered in a permanent marker. 53.  Easter morning with my three beauties! 54.  Copper, I mean Princess Copper, enjoying the sunshine.