Camping- rain or shine!

Have I ever said that I really love camping and being in the mountains with my family? I do and every time I'm with them in the mountains I remember why. I love the fact that it's just us. Us playing games, going on hikes together, riding four wheelers, fishing in the rain and creating memories that will last forever! I love my little family!

It rained Saturday most of the day. It didn't stop up most of the time, but we did spend some time in the trailer and that's when Shane busted out his automatic BB gun and taught the girls a thing or two about shooting. Pretty good shots, I must say!

The girls were determined to fish, rain or shine. So we did and would you believe that Lexi caught a fish. Shane and I thought for sure that it was a lost cause but decided to go with it since the girls were so determined. We learned our lesson!

We played a little whiffle ball and ate smores. I taught the girls how to roast starbursts and laughed and shared stories. I love the memories! Can't wait for the next trip in a couple weeks!

Wow, time flies when you're having fun!

Where do we begin...

Shelby...
Shelby is almost done with the 3rd grade. She's grown up so much the past little bit. What's happening? She did great in her piano recital and finished off another great soccer season. She's helping her dad design and finish the last room in the basement which will be her bedroom and she can't wait.

Sage...
Sage also played great in her piano recital and finished another awesome soccer season. Sage is graduating from the 1st grade and all of the girls will start at a new elementary school next year.
Sage was sick for about a week and was diagnosed with the swine flu. She had a high fever, headaches, stuffy nose, and felt nauseated off and on for a whole week, poor girl! Needless to say, she stayed home for a whole week, spent lots of time in her room and wore a mask around the house. She's so excited to be feeling better and to be back at school. So am I!

Lexi...
This little girl graduated from preschool, finished her first soccer season, and wants to do nothing but have fun. She also turned 5 which was a huge milestone for. She had a Scooby Doo party and loved every minute of all the attention.

Libby girl...
This girl is along for the ride! She's now 2 1/2. Should be potty trained, should be sleeping in her own bed all night long, should do what her mom asks her and shouldn't be throwing tantrums. But she is the 4 child and she is the product of our busy family. We sure love her!

We have a busy fun summer planned so hopefully I'll stay up on my blogging!

I finally had "that moment"...

I have known since Libby was born that she was our caboose and our family was complete. I've always felt good knowing that and never questioned my feelings about it. Even today I didn't. Although, I had a moment in Gap Kids today.
Let's just say I don't get out much, as far as shopping goes. It's just difficult to go to the mall or to the store with kids. I just assume send Shane or I go alone when Shane is home with the kids or we go together. It's much easier. Besides, I spend way less money when I do it that way! :)
But today I dropped my kids off at Mindy's house while I went out Easter dress shopping alone. I headed to Fashion Place mall where I had something on hold for the girls. I ventured into Gap just to look around. As I walked into the store, I was hit by a wave of girl clothes that are the cutest, most darling things you have ever seen. Of course I started looking through some sizes and then I realized as a ton of bricks hit me, that I was in the baby section and my baby would no longer fit into any of those baby clothes. I had to move up to the "toddler" and even "little girl" section. Then the faucets turned on and I began to cry. There I stood in Gap in the midst of the baby clothes crying. I kept saying to myself, "C'mon Lyns, get a hold of yourself!" What was happening to me? Was I baby hungry? No. PMS? No, that was 2 weeks ago. I came to the conclusion that I had finally had "that moment" that I've heard so many women talk about. Up to this point, I had yet to feel these emotions. I see my kids growing up every day, but for some reason, it hit home hard today. It was a sadness that came over me at the realization that my little babies were growing up and I was headed into a new phase of my life... No more babies. It's a phase that I've looked forward to, but also a phase that I'm sad to leave behind. I have loved having babies in our home. It's been such a great time in our lives!
So as I come to this realization, I cry for the mere sadness of not having these sweet little babies in my home that are my own, but I'm thankful that I have had 4 precious little baby girls to love and snuggle and even if they do get older, they'll always be my babies! (sniff, sniff...the tears just won't stop today...)

APRIL FOOLS...

April fools was pretty fun this year with the girls. They all wanted in on some great action so between all of us we got each other pretty good today! I even got a "Hey mom, I've got diarrhea! April Fools!" Nice, huh! Guess who that was from...

Lexi and I made an April Fools dinner for the girls. We made meatloaf cupcakes with colored mashed potatoes on top for the frosting. Then we made red jello in plastic cups to look like juice. Then we had some normal stuff too. The girls were so funny. They really thought I was so cool for letting them have dessert for dinner. Okay- not that cool- when it ended up being meatloaf that they bit into. Their faces were priceless!

I made them all on the count of three pick up their cups and take a drink. It really looked like juice because the jello would jiggle and move when they touched the cup. It was great!
They couldn't believe that it was jello- awesome!

Shane was at the temple tonight so he wasn't around for the festivities, but the girls made sure he had his dinner and some April Fool's Day cards waiting for him when he got home.
They got him because the cards don't actually open and he tried to open those cards and then finally figured it out! Gotcha Shane!


Sage and I short sheeted her sister's beds too. Lexi in all seriousness could not figure out what was going on. Then I said, "April fools!" and she just started giggling her little giggle. That little laugh is just so contagious.
We got Shelbs pretty good this year! Nice work Sage...

What will we think of next year?

MOAB

After coming home from MN, I had 2 days to do laundry, pack everyone, get the trailer ready with everything since this was our first trip out this year and needless to say, I was busy.
We headed to Moab for 4 days because I was running in the Moab Half Marathon and we thought it'd be a great little camping vacation since we have never spent much time in Moab.
The race went really well and I actually had my best time ever 2 hours and 2 minutes.
On to the next one...

We spent one day in Arches National Park, which is absolutely beautiful!

Sage, Lexi and I hiked to Delicate Arch and what a spectacular site it is! These rock formations are so amazing. Beautiful!

Below is Balance Rock. I'm totally mesmerized by these things...

We also rented a 6 seated Ranger and cruised the red rocks one day too. That was a total blast!

The girls had such a great time. Libby even managed to take a nap amongst all the bumpiness. Good times!

Moab is such a great place to be! I think we've found a new favorite place to go and since we've been to Moab the last 2 years, I think we'll make it a tradition now! We'll head that way every spring if anyone ever wants to come. I guess I'll just always put that race on my calendar!

Where did March go- Lets start with Mall of America!

The month of March has come and gone so incredibly fast. So lets start back a few weeks...
My wonderful mom turns 60 on April 4th and she has always talked about going to the Mall of America. That's right the Mall of America in Minnesota. So with the help from my dad and all of us girls deciding that we wanted to head up north for 2 days of shopping- that's what we did!
Thanks to my mom for having such a fun birthday! We had such a great time just being together as sisters (and I do consider my sister in laws, sisters!)

If any of you have never vacationed at a mall for 2 whole days, no kids, no real agenda, just great time with some of the people you love the most...you should try it sometime!

Above: mom and Mindy just after we landed in MN.
Below: Off for the first day of shopping! WOO HOO!

The first day, we actually only went in 3 stores the first 3 hours- it was AWESOME!
The MAC make up store was one of those. This is mom and me after our make up makeover...so fun!

Above: my sister Katie flew in from Florida to be with us! Her efforts made our trip even that more special! Thanks Kate for being there!
There's a store at the Mall of America for everyone. Right, Katie? :)
Below: In the middle of the mall is Nickelodeon Universe. Its a huge indoor amusement park- so crazy! My kids would have had a blast. And yes, us girls did enjoy a few rides ourselves!

Above: Mindy and I on the log ride! How sweet was that? I love this photo... :)
Below: Shopping, shopping and more shopping!

Above: We saw "Confessions of a Shopaholic" Friday afternoon. Very fitting, don't you think?
Below: Group photo after the movie. I love those girls!

And of course we ate great food and always had great conversation.

To my mom:
Happy Birthday to one of the greatest ladies I know! You are beautiful, wonderful and truly one of greatest women I know. Thanks for being such a wonderful friend, mother and grandma to all of us! 60 years is amazing especially when you think of all that you've experienced during those 60 years and we sure hope you're around for many more years to experience so much more with all of us!
Thanks for the memories in Minnesota- we'll never forget them!
I love you mom!