Queen

 

Food

I will NEVER, EVER take the ability to get groceries weekly for granted.

The food that we get, too.

The type of food - healthy food.

The amount of food - a lot of food.

The ability to not have to keep my calculator out to add it up as I go...

I am SO, incredibly grateful for Burke and for our ability to get food every week without being in a constant state of trauma.

 

First Haircut

Carrie sent me this picture Saturday morning.

Anson & Hudson!!

This picture brought me so much joy!

Braxton cut Hudson's hair.

It was his first haircut.

He looks so stinking grown up.

Gigi may or may not have cried!

 

Girl Time

Saturday afternoon, I met Jackson and Isis at the top of the world the Tunnel Park in North Salt Lake.

Jack and Isis were taking pictures of Colton and Diana.

The view is gorgeous!!

I took their truck with Delilah and Melanie to my house for girl time.

Papa got home from work SUPER early... like 3:30!

The girls were SO happy about that situation.

Delilah blew bubbles so well.

Melanie got snuggles.

She is such a happy, sweet, funny babe.

She is pure joy.

Delilah is a true middle child - SO busy, so sassy, so feisty, so independent.

SO smart.

So fun!

We loved every single minute of it!

EVERY minute!

 

Back At It

One of the most amazing things that therapy and groups did for me was make me highly self-aware.

I went from 40 years of not understanding emotions... not even being able to name them.

Then I had to let go of the myth that there are "good" emotions and "bad" emotions.

Then I had to learn how to show myself grace through ALL emotions.

Then I had to let myself just feel.

Just be.

Self-awareness can be fabulous.

IT IS fabulous.

It can also be very overwhelming.

Scary.

Sad.

Frustrating.

Confusing.

Heavy.

I have been going through ups and downs for the last year and a half...

Really since menopause hit me smack in my lava-filled face & body.

I have struggled with my irritability.

My lack of motivation.

The 10-13 pounds I've put on.

My lack of any energy.

My lack of patience with anyone or anything.

I have tried to find ways to get myself motivated.

I am doing my vitals.

Talking to God.

Drinking water.

Eating food that feels good to me. 

Getting fresh air.

UV rays.

Getting my watch has been a game-changer!

Accountability is what I have been lacking.

I've hit my steps goal and my exercise goal, my sleep goal and my water goal each day this week since getting my watch.

I'm back in my own game!

 

Girl Dad

Jackson was born to be a girl dad.

He is so so so sweet with his girlies.

They love their daddy.

He gets flowers for all of them now and then.

He gets them all Valentines.

He's the sweetest daddy.

 

So Big

I got a smartwatch.

Burke got it all set up for me.

I've got the apps installed I need.

I feel SO BIG!

 

FaceTiming

I remember when the Church announced that missionaries could call home once a week.

Jackson was in the Mexico City MTC.

I felt so strongly that this change was made for all single moms!

I so desperately needed this.

He facetimed me every week.

It saved my mama heart.

Kaydon did the same - only every other week.

He was a missionary that would have gotten too homesick if he'd called every week.

Now, with grandbabies, facetiming is literally a God-send.

I cannot imagine not being able to see these little faces every day.

It keeps us close even if we don't see each other in person more than once a month most months.

I remember so vividly growing up and only seeing my Grandpa and Grandma Robb once a year, if that.

We would call them long distance on our one phone in our home.

It was expensive to make long distance calls. 

So we would each get just a minute to talk to them quickly.

I longed for those calls.

Hearing their voices made me feel loved.

Grandma would also send us letters and little crafts in the mail.

I don't know how they did it... having all of their 21 grandchildren live so far away.

I could not do it!

 

Family Dinner

April's family dinner was yesterday.

I was so present with my grandbabies that I had to hurry up and take some pictures.

We missed Colton and Diana (they had to work).

We missed Isis (working).

Burke grilled burgers and brats.

Gigi held babies.

Uncle Cooper is such a good play mate.

Aria had him wearing her glasses.

Sweet Kehlani.

She is LOVES when Aria is there to play with.

Hudson and Delilah are so good at sharing learning how to not take each other's things.

They are darling!

Little Delilah has become a Gigi's girl and I am obsessed with it!

Uncle Cooper is fabulous at letting the girls take over his room.

Hudson pretends everything is a cleaning toy... even the lightsabers!

Papa is the favorite cuddler.

Melanie let Gigi hold her so much, though!

Hendrix loves all things balls.

He collects them.

He throws them.

He is so fun!

 

Butterflies

My sweet friend, Gina, made this butterfly necklace for me.

It makes me happy. 

It has my first initial on it, too.

I am pretty fascinated with butterflies.

Along with my cross necklace, which represents for me the fact that I don't have to carry my cross because Christ did it for us.

He rose.

Butterflies bust out of cocoons and spread their wings and fly.

I love it all.

 

Dog Days

These three.

Gus.

He has a spa day today.

He is the grumpiest old man.

Kaya.

She is the least smart dog I've ever known.

She had a spa day yesterday.

Her lashes are on point.

Stella.

She is a lot.

A LOT.

She has a spa day with her brother today.

 

Love Him

Sunday, I went and sat outside in the backyard.

Burke came out and joined me.

It was sunny.

Light breeze.

Birds chirping.

Jets flying.

He's my favorite view.

 

Daddy's Girl

Oh, Stella.

I get it.

 You have Dad wrapped around your little finger...

Except when you literally wrap yourself around Dad's arm.

 

Hudson Time

Gigi got some Hudson time on Saturday.

His mommy and daddy dropped him off bright and early so they could have a day date, playing golf.

I have missed this Squish.

Uncle Porter popped in on his lunch break.

He had tires!!

Hudson is so much like Uncle Porter!

He LOVES all the things that can be fixed, taken apart, say, "Vroooom vroom!"

He took the vacuum apart and put it back together over and over and over!

We went for a walk to the store.

Some of the walk, he walked the stroller.

He's getting so big!

Then we sat down and had some snacks.

He held my hand like this for five minutes straight.

We played outside.

Gigi weeded and he "fixed" his bike and scooter and kicked the ball around.

Before naptime, he had to FaceTime Papa.

Papa's still his favorite.