I am so grateful for our 4 children, my jewels, and the oppurtunity I have to come to know the true nature of Heavenly Father through raising them. Even if I am so grateful today it feels like my heart will explode!

Happy One Year Old and Sonias Style and Other Musings of a Momma

First of all may I say... I love a ONE year old....why are they soooo cute? Joey may have been the cutest of all one year olds, do I say this with all of them?
At first I scoured the internet for party themes, this is where sonia may get her love of themes, then felt terrible for not being a better cake decorator, party planner, mom, human being-the internet does this to me- settled on  a monster cake, it was super cute, then I remembered a tid bit I have picked up from being mom to 4 kids. All a one year old wants for their birthday is balloons, and boy did he get them...cute ones. Success!!!




Swim lessons are in full swing. Do I sign them up for another session and have crazy summer (messy house) some more, or do we sit around the last few weeks of summer in a semi clean house...I think I just answered my own question. Carpe Diem! Pretty soon they will be back at school and I can have a semi clean house, but summer is for sun and swimming and being crazy kats!
Now is the time that I rattle off updates on all the kids.
Sonia is sooooo 8. As we are school shopping she is telling me about her style... apparently this includes dresses that look like Lady Gothal, tangleds evil mother, with swooping arms that go to the wrist and crushed red velvet. She also picked out a pair of boots yesterday that where slouchy black leather with a buckle and knee high with a heel, in her size, why do they even make these? answer: to torture mothers everywhere
 I love that she is asserting her independence but can't she do it in a more unicorn and puffy clouds and pink sort of way?????????? I didn't really mean that....yes I did, no wait, where is the line between supportive and mad they are growing up? And did I mention how beautiful she is?







James oh James I can't believe you are turning 7! You are turning into quite the man, super handsome and ultra smart....sometimes I can't keep up with you. He has learned to swim this year! And is even taking Karate from a kid down the street. And loving it!

Macey Ann is doing great, she is sooo funny and super independent. She has picked up riding sonias scooter because hers is too small. She told me she had a dream about Santa he was a baby and he left her a scooter, she was giggling the whole time. Her hair is such a pretty color it is like gold.
Joey is cutting his 5th adn 6th teeth. Poor kid. He got his top I teeth before his front ones that makes for one cute kid!
One more thing needs to be said. I am tired of these kids growing up.... I worry about what it and I will be like without them here. I worry I am not teaching them all that I need to, how do I know I am not messing them up? Am I giving them a strong enough family identity, how about a strong enough testimony, or sense of self worth....too many things to try to sort out at 4 in the morning, back to bed for this tired mommy.

What I like MOST!!!

If I had to capture moments in time, but I could only have say 20 or so, I would for sure want one of them to be on the lake. This is a family favorite!
Yesterday as I was spending all my day trying to get the boat ready and thinking "this is re-diculious! Why are we doing all this work to go on the lake for maybe 2 hours tops?" I must have forgotten how every one in the family does a collective Ahhh when we first open it up on the lake, I must have forgotten how all our worries melt away. Just thought I ought to remember this forever. I am not posting a pic because I am going to paint one in your mind...little kids on the sparkling lake just before the sun goes down you know the time. Giggling and laughing on the tube....THIS IS THE LIFE!!!

Catch Up!!!!

I just wanted to post a few pics from Joeys baby blessing last fall! He is getting his bottom teeth and spends most of his day either giggling or crying, depending on if he is being held or not. So... I thought it would be fun to take a little walk down memory lane, and show how cute he was, he is still pretty darn handsome!!! We luv ya Joey Ba goey

Its Great to be 8

I finally have a moment to blog about Sonias Baptism. I was on January 7th so she was ecstatic to be baptized on her birthday week.

Lets start at the beginning with all the details, Grandma O. went dress shopping with us and got her the perfect dress, she looked beautiful!

It did snow!!! Is was so fresh and white outside, I love waking up to a blanket of white and it has been such a dry winter I didn't think it would be possible, but everyone was jumping around the house when they saw that it snowed!

The baptism was held at our Stake Center at 9am. Surprisingly every one made it on time ( with the exception on the Campos family who was nursing Poor Auntie Nessa who had pneumonia) :(

Michael performed the baptism and Grandpa Bateman and Grandpa Oliver were the witnesses, Aunt Angie spoke on Baptism and Grandma O. lead the music and Grandma Bateman gave a wonderful prayer, also Uncle Torrey played the piano. Lots of family participation.

After we had a luncheon at our church on Homestead Dr. We enjoyed a soup and salad buffet.

It was such a nice day!!! I am so proud of you Sonia, you are an amazing daughter of God who amazes me with your understanding of the Gospel. WE LOVE YOU. Thanks for being a part of our family.

Happy Birthday Macey and other big events

Macey is three!! Wowzaa!!! I honestly didn't think this day would come, but it has and she is already getting easier. If ever a child has embodied the phrase terrible twos, it is her!! She is a tough cookie, but boy is she funny!! And adorable to boot!

She loves to sing and dance and sing and dance, and pretend and pretend. She loves princesses, especially tangled, she loves to scream still and wrestle jamesy boy. She won't keep her little hands and mouth off the baby, she also loves to give the dog a run for his money.

BOY SHE SURE KEEPS US ON OUR TOES AND MAKE OUR EARS SORE!!!! But what fun would life be with out her? And what would my washing machine do all day without her?

Today at church (as every week) she had me almost in tears. Not in a good way! There is hardly anything I can do to make her listen. But all week she walks around with her hands on her hips and sings I am a child of God, and says "Mom, Heavenly Father no want you do that!!!!!"

I have just stopped watching Mikes expression from the stand. But sister Gibbs just gives her a little snack and that at least keeps her quiet for a while. Sister Gibbs (mother of 15) just shakes her head and calls her my handful. Maybe one day when I am done with little ones I will be able to do that too. Macey has taught me to develop a thicker skin, and also that a mother who looks calm on the outside while is crazy on the inside is key!

Today at church she ate an entire pack of gum! And also yesterday! Oh how we love her.... PLEASE SAY THIS MEANS SHE WILL BE AN EASY TEEN!!!

Joey is now 4 months old! He is getting more and more mellow (hallelujah!) and is soooo giggly. We all live to make him laugh. When he smiles he does it with his mouth open as wide as can be. Babies are fun!!! He is a cute as can be and even has dimples. I can't remember what life was like before him. He loves to look at books and the laptop. Just studies every little thing.

Sonia is practicing her heart out at piano. She is playing Rockin around the Christmas Tree for her Christmas recital. She is such a help to me. She is soooo pretty and looking into her eyes just melts me. But boy can she sass too! Mike says there is a reason our girls are sassy and boys are mellow, but I refuse to acknowledge it! And she could talk a stranger to death, let alone me!! She tries her best to keep us all in line and let us know what we ought to be doing. She is a lot like me, but soooooo much better!!!! She is incredibly in tune with right and wrong. Loves Heavenly Father and is so knowledgeable about the gospel. She is looking forward to being baptised this Jan. I love admire her like crazy! She is an excellent example to me. And a great communicator.

James is James steady and reliable as can be. He forgets everything he owns, but is as smart as a whip! I am amazed by him daily. He is so sensitive too, never wants any of his friends to feel bad. He cried at night for a month because he tripped a kid at the park! We prayed for the little kid all month. We had to teach him about the atonement of Christ and how it can take away things we have done wrong, and heal our hearts. James is also amazing at understanding the gospel. He also takes good care of Rosie, the girl down the street. I will send him to school and say James there isn't time to pick up Rosie today, yet somehow he always picks her up. He is as loyal as the day is long and always tells me he loves me and gives me a hug at just the right minute.

As I write this I am reminded of why each of these little spirits are here on this earth and how much they have taught me by stretching and helping me grow up. I am one blessed lady! There was a day I worried if I would ever have one kid let alone 4. Children are my greatest blessing, and I am trying to live worthy of them every day.

AND RIGHT NOW AS I TYPE THIS THE LAUNDRY IS EVEN DONE!!! Maybe for the first time in a year or so. Life doesn't get any better than this, and I just had to tell you about it!

Lindsey

PS Christmas is coming!!!

4 babies means 1/4 a parent?

Just wondering why Joey wakes up every night at 10? Is it so he can have me all to himself? He smiles and smiles at me every night and is even starting to coo and giggle. OH i love that!!!

General Conference was great, the whole family took a recharge day. We all sat around and listened. It was so great to be inspired and taught by the Prophet and Apostles. I feel ready to face the challenges ahead with a good attitude.

I have been wondering though...when will we obtain that synergy as a family that all the great people around us have, setting goals, super clean house, feeling the spirit 24 hours a day.?. Some times I feel like we are just keeping our heads above water. I mostly feel like my little kiddos only have 1/4 a mom, instead of a plugged in, focused, driven, amazing woman at the helm of their little lives. Gonna have to pray about this one, but some suggestions in the comment box wouldn't hurt either.