The simple things in life

Sometimes it's easy to complain about the job situation here in Billings. When Josh was first offered the job that brought us here, it was in North Dakota. We quickly rejected that option, as there are a few negative things I've heard about life in the middle of the Bakken, and we weren't anxious to live in such a small town. Then later he was offered the same job, but with the option to live in Billings and work 3 days a week in ND. We considered it, prayed about it, and felt it was a good move for our family and for our future.

We moved here, loved it, and then somehow 3 days a week turned into 4 days a week. We still know this was a good move for us. But we only have our Josh on the weekends.

It was difficult at first, but as time has passed we've gotten used to our routines, and we "just do it", as they say. I know one day I will look back and wonder how I did it on my own, with 4 small kids, one just a newborn, in a new town with no family.

Then I have quiet moments to think about how blessed I am to have 4 little angels looking after me. They are so sweet. There is something special about them. I am so grateful that they get along, they help me out, and are generally low-maintenance kids.

 

So for this post I just went through my camera photo album to pick out random snapshots of my life. The ordinary moments that bring a smile to my face.

 

Like when Scarlett asks me - almost daily - to have a tea party with her in her playroom. She busies herself about her kitchen, setting timers, getting dishes, and collecting her babies to eat with us, then she sets up all our dinnerware

 

Or when the girls want Ramen for dinner (yay!) just so they can try using their chopsticks in their own ways.

When I take Scarlett to our new grocery store and she anxiously selects her own produce and snacks for her cart, following me around the store asking me what's next on the list.

When Hadley yanks at my lips while she's settling down with her bottle.

When we treat ourselves to fast food after soccer practice. The girls know the kids meal menus at McDonald's, Subway, and Wendy's.

When Hadley follows me around. Everywhere.

But I can't complain because she's such a cool kid, rollin with the flow as I drag her to games and activities.

Luckily I have Scarlett around to help me look after her.

...and Claire.

We spend a lot of time in the car, but our journeys are always pleasant. We find songs to sing along to, or we sing along as we watch Frozen for the 210th time.

 

We've also been lucky to meet good friends in the neighborhood. Each of the girls has a "best friend" that lives nearby. Almost every day there is a knock on the door and kids that want to play.

I've met some great friends too, and we get together for book club, movies, church activities, and playdates with our kids. One sunny afternoon we met up at the local zoo. And when 3 or 4 Mormon moms get together, that's about 20 kids ;)

 

But by far the best part of Josh's schedule, is Thursday night when he comes home.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. That's been true for every one of us, and it's a true blessing to be reminded how much we really love our family.

Claire the soccer player

 There are few things that make me smile more than this girl. She is so sweet, so happy, and so excited to play soccer. She spends a lot of the game about 10ft away from the ball, just waiting for it to pop out to her. Sometimes it does, and occasionally she'll get a breakaway score! She remembers every score she's made and will remind me the next day too.

 At Claire's end-of-season party, the coach named her the "Most Enthusiastic" player, because she always always wanted to play, and would volunteer for everything. She also has the greatest, sweetest smile that you can't turn down.

She really is quite good

I love watching Lydia play soccer. I love it because I love soccer, and I love her. She has been fun to watch because sometimes I compare her to myself at her age. Surprisingly, we're very different players. 

My strength in soccer was my legs. I had long skinny legs and was always the fastest on my team. All I had to do was kick the ball down the field then sprint past everyone to get to it. Lydia however is one of the shortest on her team. She doesn't have the speed, but she has great footwork, and will dribble through everyone to get the goal she craves.

 
 She is always one of the leading scorers. I figured that the reason she is so good is that she plays soccer every. single. day. at recess. She likes playing with the boys.

 Her other secret.... the tongue :)

Easter Weekend with my sisters

Yes, I am way behind on my blog! Life is busy, but it's still important for me to take a moment and share the fun memories along the way. Last month my sisters Sarah and Chelsea drove up from Utah to spend Easter weekend with us, and of course our cousin Madison too! It's a new tradition we've started, since my kids have a long break around Easter, and so does Sarah at the school district where she works. Chelsea is still studying at BYU and was in the middle of finals - but she was able to study and even take one of her finals while she was here in Billings!

 

We attended the big Easter Egg hunt that's held every year at the Jr High, and sponsored by one of the local churches. It was great weather and great fun, and the girls scored plenty of eggs.

 

We spent lots of time outside enjoying the great weather which we missed dearly in Montana. We went on a hike at Phipps park, and we relaxed in the sun in the backyard while the girls played and played.

 

Then of course we colored our eggs. And then they stayed in the fridge forever because my girls don't like boiled eggs.

 

On Easter Sunday we awoke to treats from the Easter Bunny, and hidden eggs around the room. This was Hadley's first Easter, and she was uncharacteristically excited about all the hoopla.

 

Our friends the Wells had a huge Easter Egg Hunt in their yard, and invited us over on Sunday to help collect the hundreds of eggs that were hidden. The girls did surprisingly well without any assistance from us.

 It is now almost June and we still have Easter candy in the cupboard :)

ZOOMA Texas 2014

When someone asks what I miss most about Texas, the answer is always the same: the people. We made some great friends in Texas, and when we learned that we were moving to Montana, my girlfriends and I set a date to reunite for a girls weekend in Austin and the Zooma half-marathon.

It was very challenging for me to train in Montana, where we had an especially snowy winter, and then run this race in the humid hill country of Austin. I didn't run as well as I could have, but I'm still pleased with my time, and reminded myself that the weekend was more about being with friends!

We hung out by the pool, did a lot of eating and shopping...

..and enjoyed all things TEXAN

God bless Texas :)

Happy 1st Birthday Hadley!

She is the apple of my eye.

One year ago, on April 6th 2013, our fourth angel arrived. As the year has gone on we have been more convinced that our family is whole and complete with our 4 little girls. Hadley is the icing on the cake. She is the perfect ending, the grand finale. If I could choose which of my girls would be "the baby" of the family, it would most definitely be Hadley.

If there was one word to describe Hadley, it would be "chill".

The kid is in no hurry to grow up, she doesn't get bothered by much at all, and she is the most relaxed and quiet little girl I've had. And best of all, she is always happy. She's our Happy Hadley.

We celebrated Hadley on Sunday with a family party. Lydia, Claire, and Scarlett each shopped for their own gifts to give Hadley, and it warmed my heart to see how much thought they put into their gifts and how excited they were to wrap them and give them to their baby sister.

Together we all made and decorated a chocolate cake for her. She tore. it. up!

 

Hadley was catered to and fawned over all day long. Even first thing in the morning, we were awakened by the baby monitor and the big sisters singing "Happy Birthday" to Hadley in her crib.

 She is the princess. She is adored. She is the baby. Always.

The circus comes to Billings

The Shrine Circus came to Billings and was the talk of the town. All the kids at school and at playgroups were talking about it, so we were determined to go - even though it meant me taking all 4 girls by myself.

We got there early for great seats, then had cotton candy as we waited. We were impressed with the circus talent - very well-trained animals!

At intermission the girls begged for a pony ride, and I couldn't refuse. They had been so good for me.