A good day

There is nothing better than a happy child. Yesterday we went to Thanksgiving Point - and will be going back and back and back again since my MIL bought us an annual family pass.

Chris was helping Alex feed the Alpaca and it was tickling her hand, her giggle is so sweet. I asked her what her favorite part of the day was and she said "I feed the cows." She was petting every animal yesterday whether it was real or bronze!

Samantha really wanted to ride the horsies too!

Grandma Julia and the girls, we had a great time spending time with her playing, eating and shopping!

Learning and Lacking

This is me with a big smile on my face tonight for the things I learned and understood better. I'm talking about the Plan of Salvation. I taught Relief Society today on the very subject and was up until 1am reading an essay by Truman G. Madsen and discussing the topic with my hubby. It was so refreshing to feel alive as I studied and really understood the doctrine better - like it started applying to my life. I was fed. And because I was nourished by the word, I was weepy through my entire lesson! Oh well, the sisters are used to it, right? My attitude towards my trials has changed, I realize that I am not yet as Job - duh! And now my "thorns" seem really insignificant! Especially when compared to other people that are really suffering right now. I've been crying as I've been reading this blog and this blog over the last few weeks. I am blessed and I'm grateful for my health and the knowledge of the plan God has for me and for all of us. To learn more about my beliefs or to be enlightened, click here.

Now to complain. This is my crusty overtired face, well, it really looks way worse in person. I got 3 hours of sleep last night and couldn't fall asleep today while napping or atleast trying to nap. Because......

..this little cutie wakes up at the B-crack of dawn!!! Um yeah, 6 am comes in our room asking for milk. And she does that probably 4 times a week! Once she's up, she's ready to go. Not my genes.

And this cute baby has been sleeping through the night (finally!) the last 3 days but I don't feel it because of our early morning visitor! Oh the woes of being a mother to young children. Precious children. I am enjoying it. Really, even if the bags under my eyes would tell you otherwise. I love them and I love being a mother.

Mothergoose

Alex started pre-school yesterday. Well, it's more of a neighborhood babysitting club for two-year olds because let's be honest, at that age it's more about learning to share your toys.

These were taken after school, I think she's going to like it. I know I will.

Alex with her buddies Harrison and Tate. She's always out numbered but doesn't mind it. We gotta work on her smile, can you tell she is always saying cheese?

5 months

My blue eyed baby loves rice cereal.
Another private victory for this mom!

Sipping the good life

Lately I've been really counting my blessings and thank the Lord for my beautiful children, my sweet husband and the opportunity to be a mother. I love these pictures that CK took of Alexandra and I. We were sharing a cup of peppermint tea after church. We were racing to see who could slurp it the fastest....

can you guess who won? Little hog.

Something to blog about

Looks pretty suspcious, doesn't it? Can you guess what happened??

Yep, I locked my kids in the car (by accident of course) and it was a good thing I had started it and put the AC on full blast. I called 911 (for the 2nd time this summer!) and they came within 5 minutes. Luckily Alex and Sam were fine and had no idea what was going on.

The Hero. Engineer Kevin Holt

After the fiasco, they let all the kids get a tour of the fire truck, it was the highlight of our Higbee Family Reunion. Glad I could help out.

They gave the girls a cute little polar bear stuffed animal. Sam doesn't look amused over the shenanigans.

Alex and her cousins Olivia and Luke.

My beautiful mom, there to support since Chris was working today.

My dad took my keys after they rescued my kiddos and held on to them until I was ready to go. He's the responsible one.

The first time I called 911 back in June, we were watching my sisters kids and her little dog. I had all the kids piled in the Suburban and Chris had a truck so we needed to go pick-up a table and chairs from his parents house. One by one the kids left the car, even though I told them to stay put. I had the keys in the console and shut the door once Alex got out with Lauren, leaving Samantha and the dog in the car. The second I shut the door Roxy came running to the door and stepped on the automatic lock and locked the door! I ran inside and called 911. They arrived within 5 minutes but meanwhile Roxy was standing on Samantha and barking in her face and she was hysterical! Everything was fine, although I was a little uneasy and anxious. The moral to my two stories is: HIDE-A-KEY! I'm getting one on Monday.

Nie Nie

For most bloggers out there, I'm sure you have heard the story of Christian and Stephanie Nielson, if not click here to get the story. Ever since last week when I stumbled upon my friend Kara's blog who held an auction for their recovery, I can't stop thinking about them. I read Nie's blog the other night and just think she is a superb woman in many ways. She seems like a very fun and carefree mother but also cares very deeply for them and their well-being. She and her husband seem to have such a loving and romantic relationship, for sure an example of eternal love. Then of course there is her unique sense of style, I love her style! She is beautiful inside and out. My heart goes out to them, they are in my thoughts and prayers. One day I would love to meet her and tell her how much I admire her, until then....

xoxo