{Fisher is 3}

To start the {celebration}this year my sweet sister Em and her family send Fisher this in the mail.  He thought it was pretty cool to get a letter at the post office!

Thanks Em, we love you.  Can you tell by the look on his face??

He carried this around all day and showed everyone that he saw.

 By the end of day it was pretty worn out and loved.

Fisher was so excited for his {Birthday} this year!  All day long he had a smile on his face and milked it for all it was worth. 

He brings such a big smile to my face!

He got a soft cuddly Lightening McQueen blanket this year. He loves to sleep with it.

When daddy and the kids got home we took them to the wash to play.  Fisher loves to splash in the water.  He was {WAY} excited about that.

It turned out to be a muddy disaster......

So we went home and sprayed them off in the hose.

Then came is excitement.  Grandpa Saline pulled up and it was time for {Cake}!!

Fisher was so happy about his candles!

He said it was the {BEST BIRTHDAY EVER}!!!!

Love those words.

Love this little guy!

{Things to Remember}

 * Turned 3, tells everyone he is 5
 * Eats, Sleeps, and Baths with Lightening McQueen
 * Crawls into bed with Daddy and Mommy {EVERY} night
 * Repeats everything you say
 * LOVES to play outside all day if he could
 * Gives lots of kisses and hugs
 * Tells me he loves me 50 times a day
 * Thinks his big brother  is the coolest EVER
 * Loves Chocolate with his Mommy
 * Seeks out water everywhere he goes to get into to
 * His most favorite thing in the world to do is ride the "fillo-willo" {Four Wheeler}
 * Knows all the letters in the alphabet and their sounds

{this moment}

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

pure enjoyment

{Aravaipa Canyon}

We continued to celebrate the beautiful August weather by driving to Aravaipa this weekend. One of my most {favorite} places to go.  The drive is gorgeous and the views are breath taking.  We rolled down our windows and enjoyed the fresh air.  The grass was a luscious green and the view of the mountains were amazing.  It is so peaceful out there. 

We have decided to put this one at the top of our favorites list!  But these days anyplace with clear cool water is a hit with the kids!  Jeremy and I even put our feet in and gave our tired feet a

"mud treatment".  There is such a calming affect to put your feet in creek water.  I so grateful that Heavenly Father has given us the beauty of nature to go  and retreat to so we can relax and find peace within.  Something about being still in nature will bring you so close to heaven.

Jeremy was walking in the water and he stepped in some mud that sucked in his shoe.  It took his a while to get it find it and get it out.  It was the weirdest thing!

Our time there was wonderful.  The way home was perfect.  It is gorgeous there when the sun is lowering.  The kids were worn out eating their snack, and we had the windows down with the breeze in our hair. 

No better way to end a perfect day!

today

.....started rough.

The kids wouldn't get up.

I decided I have to sleep till 6.  These afternoon headaches are killing me.

Hunter didn't pack his lunch last night. {We figured it out at 7:45}.

Carlee has {misplaced} our home cell phone.

I am up to my eyeballs with laundry.

My floors are disgusting.

Children went to school sad. {I HATE that!!}

This weekend wiped me out!  I feel like we were just moving in with all the changing and cleaning.  But most of it is done, and it is starting to feel normal again.  The new arrangements are wonderful and the rooms are being used with much EXCITEMENT! 

I am really trying to slow down and enjoy these moments.  These headaches are caused from stress I am convinced.  I've realized that I go around all day trying to keep the house {PERFECT} and everything going smooth and stay on top of everything and my body is telling me to {RELAX}!!  I can do everything and keep it perfect, but I miss out on all the {little moments} of living with my family.  I decided I have to choose what I want and I've decided I want to

{cherish the moments}. 

I still can't figure out why we put so much stress on ourselves for every aspect in our lives to be perfect!  And the stress will make a person sick!  So if you come to my house and my floors are dirty or there is laundry piled up needing to be folded or my kitchen is well used, it is because I am living in the moment and  cherishing my child's childhood.  My sister had a class in RS and a lady taught it who is a councilor.  She said a lot of people's problem is they do not "live in the moments" of their lives.  I am totally understanding what she means.  I will be doing something only to be thinking about what I had to do next or a list I need to make, ect.  She suggested only thinking about what you are doing at that time and really "live" in that moment.  Then make time to make your lists and things like that. 

I took the kids to school and the bell had already rung. 

When I got home I found this beside my bed.

Happy returned, and I realized again what life is all about.

I read a wonderful article HERE this morning.

Heavenly Father new just what we would need.

{National Entitlement Awareness Day} Plus a Giant Giveaway!!

NYTimes bestselling authors, Richard and Linda Eyre have written an exciting new book called

The Entitlement Trap: How to Rescue Your Child with a New Family System of Choosing, Earning, and Ownership and they invite you to join them in the cause to stem the tide of entitlement that is causing so many problems in today’s world.

Go HERE and be entered to win some awesome prizes!!

I am so excited for mine to arrive!  Spread the word today!!!

two more

I love books!

And this is the time of year I tend to "stock" my library.

I am LOVING both of these books.  I have been waiting for MONTHS for

{The Rhythm Of Family}

to come out.  It was just as good as I had anticipated!  I am so excited.  We are changing around rooms and I am going to get to have a {Learning Studio} for the kids and a {Library/Writing Room} for the whole family.  Below is a room I adore that was on the {Playful Learning} website.  Go there! Have FUN!!

This author has a blog that is so much fun and inspiring!  She has two more books two!  I have them all!  So our weekend project will be taking apart beds, putting them back together, organizing closets, and decorating rooms!   The kids are so excited and so am I!

stitches

I really can't believe that this is our first time with stitches.  During summer break we had gone to eat pizza at the school.  We were done and leaving when Hunter got up and starting walking and tripped right over Fisher who had bent down for something and he fell and hit his face on the bench.  I saw the whole thing.  It was horrible.  Tons of blood.  Which I don't deal with very well at all.

After about an hour I decided it was bad enough to have him looked at.  So I took him up to Dr. Wright and he decided to put in a couple stitches in hoped it would help it heal right.  Sure enough, it looks just like new!  He was pretty nervous about stitches but did wonderful!  So proud of him!

two of our MOST {favorite} books

Hunter has been having so much fun with this book!  The projects are perfect for his age and years to come.  There are so many great things for boys to learn to do.  I love to see him carrying it around with him and find joy in a book! Plus it keeps his little mind busy doing good things!



{Project List}

*Making a Buckeye Bow {Archery}
*Home-Made Fishing Tackle
*Home-Made Boat

My girls are loving their book too!  Such lovely girls things to do in this book.  I love how it teaches what was done years ago.  My girls think the projects are so cool!  Can't wait to post a finish project.                                    

{Project list}

*Botany As Applied to Art (Painting using plant designs)

*Making Your Own Picture Frame

*Making Holiday decor