January

Temple Night/Double date

Rick and I had names we needed to go through the temple for and asked Telli and Brogan to come along with us and help with some of the names. We went out to dinner after and ran into some friends from the Valley. So Naturally, we took pictures to make it look like Rick was eating Paige's head.

Since Rick's new calling. I've had more time with my kids after church, watching movies and waiting  for Dad's return. Linc is also getting better at going to his classes and I had to take a picture of his Sunbeam crown that he refused to take off even after getting home from church.

It's always Fun when the Felshaws come

We went on a family four-wheeling ride in the valley. It was freezing but so much fun!

 Beebs decided to do a cute photo shoot with my Linc and she got some pretty cute shots of him.

 Emmy's Birthday Party!

Penny has been obsessed with this rocking horse. She says "yeehaw" as she rocks so hard she about topples over with every rock backward. And the way she says horsey and Neighs is maybe one of the most darling things I've heard.

Lincoln has spent countless hours playing with his tracks this month

 I played in a tournament in Cedar City with these gals. I think it was the first time I have ever been the oldest one on the team. It was an interesting realization but still loads of fun

Here he is- a working man!

 And here's his son, goofy as ever....

 with Penny following in his footsteps

 This is what happens when dad "watches" the kids

 I really get a lot of enjoyment out of watching this one eat sometimes. This bagel got the best of her, I think.

We've really enjoyed watching My dad and Rick play church basketball this year. Our ward has a great team and I'm sure they will take it all the way.

P.S. Penny makes the best cheerleader!

There are some things I can't live without and it's some Me time and time with my kids

 their bath time is something I quite enjoy-nothing better than a squeaky clean kid...

 And a sleeping one

We've been visiting a lot of Model homes lately, getting ideas and shopping around. These kids enjoy the staged homes and in this case, had fun checking out the shower.

A day with dad at the park was a perfect idea...they don't get enough time with daddy

One of mine and my kids favorite things to do is go watch Rick play in his basketball leagues. Hes started playing again with a really great team and he's had a blast with it. I love cheering him on and my kids love having competitions who can make it around the track the fastest or who can pull themselves to the end of the bench the fastest.

This same night, I had a 15 year old boy ask me out on a date and I laughed, loudly, and then asked him which of his friends put him up to doing that. He was bright red with embarrassment and shyly said something as he practically ran from me. It was clearly a prank of some kind but the poor kid was so embarrassed, I started thinking I should've played that out a little more playfully and went along with it just to make it a bit easier on him. I'm sure his friends got a big kick out of it and hopefully, he wasn't too traumatized by the whole thing. 

And a few more for kicks and giggles

Growing pains

I realize I haven't written in some time...I made the decision to take a break from posting. It felt like for a time that it was harder and more of an inconvenience for me to post which is something it has never been to me in the past. I have always loved writing down the funny things my children say and do and posting the fun events we get to do as a family, but it was getting to be too time consuming. When I stopped writing I realized I had more time to just soak in the moments I got with my kids instead of feeling like I needed to jot em down to remember them. I still feel it's important for me to keep up on my journal and blogging but where Penny was a bit more work and there was a lot going on it was in my best interest to step back and just enjoy it and be extra involved in it for a time.

I guess an update wouldn't be such a bad idea, since I'm writing. This last year hasn't been easy but it's been worth it. We have been so blessed and I have learned so much. I look forward to what's in store for us this next year. Rick is continually working hard and more often now that he's received a big promotion. We are in a position to build or buy a home which is exciting and stressful. We've already experienced getting our hopes up and having them crushed on more than one occasion but we are hopeful that we'll know what, when, and where; in time. Me, being the less patient one in the relationship, is maybe struggling a bit more with all of it. But, Like I said, learning a lot.

This last year, I've experienced what it can be like to be seriously depressed and confused about our worth and value in this life and I feel for Anyone who suffers from depression on a daily basis. Thankfully, I was able to come to the realization of a lot of things and find myself better from all of it, less judgmental and more open to loving and serving others. I feel happier and more blessed than ever before and I'm so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the insight He has provided me with.

Now, it is a waiting/enduring/progressing game and I'm sure a bit more strenuous along the way because with trial and tribulation comes growth. But I admit, I've had some major growing pains throughout this last year and I assume will have more within this year. So grateful to my Savior and the love he has for all of us. Happy growing everyone!!