The Difference Between Boys and Girls

This morning I decided I would make my life a little easier and have the kids choose their outfits for school for the first 5 days of school.

One by one I took the kids in to pick their outfits. Andy was first, I laid out his new clothes and said what do you want to wear the first day? He asked me what matched what so I put the clothes together and he said "ya, that's fine" and chose his 5 outfits.
Next, Giovanni came in and said "Mommy you pick for me" I've been trying to get him to make his own choices so I told him to choose the shorts he wanted to wear first and then guided him from there.
Finally, I go into Natali's room and tell her what we're doing. We lay out her new clothes and she proceeds to try on EVERY outfit, with accessories, and shoes. She then looks in the mirror, twirls, and tries on the next outfit, changing the day she's going to wear the outfit with each change of clothes. She then tells me how beautiful she looks in her new clothes and finally (an hour later) decides on her outfits (with much coaxing from me!).

And now I see the difference between boys and girls!

In Seven Heaven!

Tomorrow, August 7th, my baby girl turns 7!!! I can't believe it! It seems like yesterday I was putting her in pre-k and next week she'll be in 2nd grade! Where has the time gone?!






This is one of my favorite pics of Natali... she was 5 and surprised me with doing her own hair for church... she put every hair accessory she owns in her hair! Silly girl!!



Natali a few weeks ago when I cut her hair. I love that she likes to change it up with her hair every so often, she's such a girl!


Me and my baby girl about 2 months ago... she LOVES taking pics of us together! My cutie!!


A few months ago again, I think we were out to dinner and we were bored so we decided to take pics of us on my phone! She's too dang cute!


On Sunday me and my girly posing for the paparazzi!

7 Reasons I love my {almost} 7 year old!

1. She has her own sense of style-- totally funky to say the least!
2. She loves everybody unconditionally {everyone is her "best friend"}
3. She loves to read {and has been known to finish whole chapter books in a day!}
4. She is one of the most compassionate little girls you'll meet
5. She loves to mother {sometimes I have to remind her who the mommy is!}
6. She loves to sing and tells us she's going to be famous when she grows up
7. As smart as this little girl is she is soo ditsy sometimes- I love it!

Natali badadali, I couldn't imagine my life without you. I'm so lucky to be your Mommy and get to watch you grow and learn. You are a special little girl and we are so blessed to have you in our family!!

I love you the most, I win!!

Finding Joy

Thank you all for your words of kindness on my post about being in a rut. I am truly blessed to have such amazing friends in my life. You all said what I needed to hear in your own way, either on my blog, or by grabbing me in the hall at church, or a sweet phone call. I appreciate you more than words could express.

A lot has been happening in my life and I've been feeling the constant reminder of a phrase in my Patriarchal Blessing lately. I'll paraphrase, but it basically tells me that I will be called into the halls of higher learning and my decision to do this will bless my family and children's lives. I can say that I've officially registered for classes and will be starting school on August 24th . I'm so excited about this decision and know the Lord will bless me and my family through what may be a crazy time in our lives. I've never been good at school, I'm not the brightest crayon in the box, but I feel confident and have been studying this past week trying to refresh my old brain, which causes my excitement to grow even more. This is a huge step for me, and I'm nervous, but thankfully my excitement is out weighing my nerves {for now}.

To get ready for us all to go back to school today I've been making "schedules" for everything, laundry, scouts, dinner (more like menus), cleaning, homework, etc. I love that I'm getting more organized and I love that I'm motivated to do these things! I love that I'm finally finding the joy in my journey!

I'm especially thankful to my hubby who realizes how important this is to me and has been nothing but supportive since I've made my decision. I truly found the BEST hubby {EVER}!

So... Here's to a GREAT start of the new school year!!

Better Late Than Never...

Seeing as it's now August and we went on our trip to Newport about a month ago, I figure it's about time I post about it! We had sooo much fun! We stayed at the Hilton on the border of Irvine and Newport, it would have made for a nice romantic weekend {like it was planned for until our plans were changed last minutes and the kids weren't leaving for Utah for 2 more weeks! lol} but we made it a great family weekend.
We loved playing outside and feeling the fresh ocean air... it was a nice change from the 100+ Arizona heat we're used to! We all decided we want to move there once we become rich! lol.
One of the days we were there we went down to the Del Mar Fair and had a blast walking around. I was amazed... I was sooo good at staying away from the fair food!! It probably helps that I'm way cheap! lol. The kids had gotten money to spend so they loved walking through and buying just about anything that jumped out at them. We also all played a game together (I won, aren't I a bad Mom for not letting one of my kids win?! lol) It was so fun!
Giovanni bought a hermit crab, Crabby Bob Garvin and a sword with his money. He loves Crabby and takes such good care of him! Every night in his prayers he says thank you for Crabby. Too cute!
Andy caught Daddy on a good day... I am total anti gun, but clearly Daddy is cool with it, Andy got 3 bb guns and a cap gun. Needless to say, Andy is one happy kiddo!
Natali bought some markers (I can't remember what they were called) and a hat. And maybe a stuffed animal.
Cute kids with all their loot! They were so excited!



Our last day there we spent at the beach... the water was sooo cool and felt sooo good! We weren't there too long but I came home looking like a lobster! All in all, it was a great trip! I can't wait to go again-- I just hope it's sooner rather than later, this Saturday is supposed to be 114 degrees, I wouldn't mind going then! :)

2 Babies!!

This past week I became an auntie again-- TWICE! My sisters both were preventing getting pregnant and ended up pregnant and 2 days apart! Wowza!

Monday, July 20th Summer had a baby boy (whom is still nameless so we call him "Little Gene" {his middle name will be Eugene after my Dad} he was 8lbs 3oz and is sooo dang adorable! I'm told they are leaning toward Harrison for the name but for now...Summer and Little Gene are doing great!
(Carson, 20mo, Emma 3, and Little Gene-- Summer's 3 kiddos!)

Wednesday, July 22 Amy had another baby boy, Cwynn {pronounce Quinn} Edward Hartung weighed in at 9lbs 2oz {3oz smaller than her biggest baby-thank heavens for c-sections!} and is adorable and doing well!
(Caitlyn 12, Cwynn new, Calleya 3, Colby 5-- Amy's 4 kiddos!!)

Isn't it amazing how much the babies look alike? They could be little twinners!

I'm so blessed to be an Auntie to soooo many cutie pies! And totally can't wait to love and cuddle these little ones and teach them who their favorite is, like I have all the rest of the kids! :)

Stuck

Ever since we've gotten back from our Newport trip {I know I still need to blog about that, sorry!} I have been feeling so blah. I am seriously feeling stuck in a massive rut. I can't seem to pop out of it, either.
Maybe it was coming back to reality that did me in-- sleeping in until 10 every morning was amazing but we all know that my kids don't do that at home. I can't put my finger on what's happening.
Maybe I shouldn't be blogging this... but who can I trust if I can't trust you, my blog readers? ;) Yesterday I couldn't even muster the strength to get out of bed and go to church. Facing people just didn't seem like something I wanted to do. I know that is when I need to be at church the most, but I just couldn't.
There are so many areas that I could improve spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically on and I know that all of those would help my rut... it's just lack of motivation maybe? I'm not really sure. I know that I am so blessed, I have an amazing hubby who shows me and tells me how much he loves me on a constant basis, I have wonderful, beautiful children, in a time where nothing is stable my hubs has a pretty stable and reliable job, I have great friends and family... and so much more.

But...the rut is still there...

Blind

How cute do they look in their new frames?! I love them! They fit their personalities so well, I think!

I took my kiddos to the eye doc today for check ups. We have new insurance and I hate, hate, hate Natali and Andy's frames (we've replaced each one at least 3 times!!) so I figured why not just go in and see what's up! Good thing I did! Both Andy and Natali's prescription has changed quite a bit and Giovanni needs glasses as well! The kids picked out super cute frames and are excited to get them back in a few weeks!Close up of Andy's new frames! He has -2.0 in one eye and -3.0 in the other with a pretty severe astigmatism
Natali has the worst vision, poor girl -2.5 and -3.5 with an astigmatism as well but these new frames are too cute, that's my girl, making vision problems fashionable! ;)Giovanni also has an astigmatism and has -2 in both eyes! He was the pickiest one about his frames, he tried on at least a dozen before settling on these because they looked like his big brother's! He did really well for his first trip to the eye Dr though, good job little buddy!After we celebrated our sight problems with McDonald's ice cream (my kids (mostly Giovanni) calls hot fudge sundae's hot DAY sundaes how cute is that?!)... nothing like ice cream to wash away your troubles, right? Actually, the kids all love wearing glasses, I just used it as a treat for how well they were (ok, and I wanted some, too!!).