slow and steady.

Back to blogging.  I still take pictures everyday but they are not being organized and that is driving me batty.  My favorite scripture is alma 37:6 which says, "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass" and I feel like I can apply that to this here blog and record keeping for my family.  That's my goal.  I'm never going to make up for all the time lost in the busy-ness of it all, but I can do small things often and that's my goal.  

Here we go.  

These pictures were taken this summer as part of our Stake Primary Challenge for families to read the scriptures together each night, pray, and hold a weekly Family Home Evening.  They gave us a little puff ball jar to fill up after we did each thing and the jar would be full by the time Stake Conference rolled around.  Than and I are very consistent with those things---not perfect by an stretch of the imagination--but those things happen regularly in our house anyway, but it was great to see the kids and their excitement to put those silly balls in a jar.  Claira was the most faithful about the puff balls and would not let us skip a day so that we could fill our jar.  

 And here we are.  Our eternal family.  

 And Than.  Work is still super busy but somehow he finds a way to have the energy to work, do his calling, spend time with us, work out (he's training for another half iron man coming in March) and be helpful around the house.  Basically the dude doesn't sleep.  Honestly, I know he's blessed with maximum energy and ability because he prays and is doing what he does with the purpose of fulfilling what Heavenly Father has asked from him and He gives him the added strength needed.  We definitely cannot do all things on our own and know that Heavenly Father is blessing us every step of the way. 

 My kids.  They are the cutest ever and pretty much all get along most of the time.  I feel really lucky that way because I really think that they enjoy each other.  Not to say that there isn't a lot of screaming and bickering, but they do just have a lot of fun together and imagine things together and create things together.  I love watching them when they are in a good zone.  

Here are some of the latest.  Pacen got to pick a "special person" to bring in as part of him being the Star of the Week.  He chose to bring in Maren.  Isn't that just the sweetest thing ever?!?!  That really speaks volumes about what kind of person he is.  He is so genuinely sweet and caring and is such a good brother to all of these girls.  And it's not just Maren.  He's like that with everyone but it's so much easier to be sweet all the time to a baby.  But he lets any of the girls sleep with him any night and doesn't complain and I think, prefers it.   He's just the sweetest. 

 I wanted to document what Maren is like while she eats.  A complete beast!  if there isn't food right when she wants it, she is literally screaming at the top of his lungs.  All the time.  Every night Than and I just look at each other like, seriously?!?!  If the food is there and it's what she wants, she's fine.   She is learning about throwing her food onto the floor which is wonderful but its  what babies are supposed to do and she's perfecting it. :)

 Pacen and Camry are working on a duet.  Their first one!  It's very frustrating (for both of them!  And Me!) but it's so cute.  It's good for both of them to work on their timing because they both have issues with it. Practicing has gotten a lot better wtih both of them.  Camry has never been a real challenge with is, but  Pacen has, but I feel like he's in a good rhythm right now.  And I'm thankful for that!  And homework, too.  I don't know, but things are going well right now and I don't want to jinx it!

 I snapped this picture because Maren has started climbing!  Look at her on that little table!  I caught her crawling onto a kitchen chair yesterday and the scariest one of all was that she climbed into the bathtub with Claira!  We hear this big splash and a scream and I think Claira was caught off guard and didn't think she'd actually make it in.  Gotta watch this girl!

 The other day we went to see Frozen (again!) at the Drive in!  We are frozen obsessed just like the rest of the country.  I'm so happy that that movie is doing so well and it's clean and funny and really family friendly.  Gentry still sings let it go everyday but I'm not sick of it yet.  That's a good sign!  Three months and going strong. :) 

 I love this picture even though it's blurry.  Happiness. 

 I'm so glad we have a drive in close to us.  It's nice to have everyone crammed in our car, snuggling together. 

 The kids love their play structure!  They play out there all the time and I love it.  I knew they'd love it!   And our backyard is always a mess.  

Tired baby and a working daddy.  

 A little Family Home Evening for the people. 

 Camry has been really into helping me with the lesson.  It's fun to see her be interested in that.  It's her second time and I need to get the other kids doing it too.  It comes down to planning on my part to get more people involved instead of just shooting from the hip at 6:00 on Monday night. 

 Camry is a little artist.  I find these little treasures all the time. 

Than and I got to go to Las Vegas for our anniversary trip!  It's really not my favorite place in the world, but it has Celine Dion, and Tim & Faith so we went!  

Waking up early isn't so difficult when you know you have like 50 kid free hours ahead of you!  Becca and Kyle came down and it is amazing to have them help us.  So awesome.  I have no fear at all and don't worry a bit when Becca is with them.  Even when we came back, Maren was crying and Gentry says, "Maren wants her Becca."  And she was probably right! 

I saw this in my Sunset Magazine and really want to make them. 

Just walking around and shopping. 

We stayed at the Venetian where Tim and Faith had their show.  They did a great job and we just love their music. 

On saturday we just woke up, worked out, ate a leisurely breakfast, and then we weren't sure what to do and decided to head out to the Hoover Dam and surprisingly, it was pretty awesome!  

 #nofilter 

 So Than is terrified of heights!  Like screamed like a little girl and almost wouldn't walk out there but he did!  He conquered his fear!  

 The whole thing was pretty fascinating.  I love the innovation and american spirit exemplified there. 

 Back on the strip.....I love hotels and how pretty they display my star wars makeup bag.   

 I'm so glad that we went to tim and Faith first, because Celine blew them out of the water!  And i love them but she is a phenomenon.  Truly just god-given talent and a really amazing show.  My only wish with her concert was that she did more of her own songs.  She covered a few too many for my liking just because I love her music.  She can sing anything but really I just want to hear her songs.  

 Our seats were pretty high up, but there really aren't any bad seats there. 

 We enjoyed our much needed 'break'.  I sure love that guy.  Here's to twelve years of marriage babe! 

Just Gentry.

I've said it a million times and I'll say it again....Gentry broke the mold.  She makes me work really hard as a mom everyday but I am a better mom for it.  Plus, she is so super loving and the first to run up to me and give me a big fat hug and a kiss and a quick, "I love you, mom!" and be on her way.  Who doesn't love that!?!  I always tell people that she was our first friendly kid and it's totally true. She loves everyone and will play with everyone and is so excited to see friends and family and wave at strangers. It's something I've had to get used to because my other kids are just not that way.  

But Gentry can be really hard and it's frustrating sometimes.  She is very set in her way and once she has her idea about something it is very hard to shake it.  Determined, that one.  I have seen a change in her where I can say, "Gentry, you have until the count of three until you/I.....(fill in the blank) One...two..."  and by three she is actually moving and doing what I say whereas before I felt like I was just talking to myself.  She is growing up and understanding a lot more which is helpful.  But she can can be a stinker.  Especially to Claira.  Oh man does she know how to push Claira's buttons and Claira falls for the trap EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.  And I'm pretty sure I see a little twinkle in Gentry's eyes when Claira makes that high pitched squeal of frustration.  Just a little glimpse maybe.  

But she is so cute.  And her speech is developing nicely since taking away the sassy.  Oh now that was a fun day.  I never thought I would have an issue with a pacifier but the pacifier won on many occasions but when she turned three, I knew it had to be over.  I potty trained her first, which actually was the EASIEST POTTY TRAINING EVER!  She really did amazing.   She loved the Potty Power DVD just like the rest of my kids and she had had a few success attempts while in the tub where she knew she had to go and so it really took a week and we were done.  After one day, totally nighttime trained and once she went number two, she got it.  She still makes me take her to the bathroom all the time even though she can do it herself which is getting old, but she loves me.  :)  

After the potty training was in the bag, I knew it was time to take the sassy away.  Cari had done the Toys R Us thing where you can buy a new toy with your sassy and the people at Toys R Us make a big deal about it and it's done and so I thought I'd do the same thing.  

Adoringly gazing at her bestie.  She really did love that thing.  

So we went in and I was trying to get her to get a bike, but then I didn't want to have to put it together and then she got distracted by something else and kept talking about the ariel musical instruments and so I thought, what the heck?  She brought in two sassies so I'll get her two presents and so then she picked out this other cheapy toy with a play cell phone and she was good. 

 This was my favorite moment.  She literally rubbed her face on the pacifier after she had picked out her toys.  She knew their time was limited. :)

When I took her to the front of the store to "buy" her toys, the ladies gave her a balloon and a hat and made this big ole deal about her and she willingly gave them her sassies, but she really, truly was not happy about it.  She didn't smile the whole way home.

And surprisingly I was sad for her!  I really did feel bad for taking this stupid thing away from her just because I knew how much she liked it.  That's talking like a crazy person but it's true!

She did have meltdowns once a day for about a week but she was more or less fine.  She did ask for her "Giraffey Sassy" since that one was her favorite and it was "lost" before she turned in her other ones, but she was okay after that week.  The other day we did go through that aisle in Target and she screamed, "My Giraffey Sassy!!!" and I was afraid for a relapse but I kept reminding her what a big girl she is now and she was fine.  

That same day I threw all of Maren's sassies away too.  I just figured it would be easier on all of us and it is.  Than and I were saying how wonderful it was not to be tied to that stinking pacifier!  As we are getting in the car...FInd the sassy!  On road trips....the sassy has fallen and we can't find it!  Or, "Gentry!  Don't steal Maren's sassy!" It is a much more pleasant life not having an addict in the house.  

This is us over the break in the city.  

One thing I don't ever want to forget is how she likes to switch roles with me.  She'll say, "I'm the mom and you're the sweetie."  And then I pretend to be the kid and we could play that all day.  Although she uses it to her advantage at times because she was so insistent on doing the dishes the other day because she was the "mom" and then when Than asked for everyone to help him do the dishes later that night she said, "But I not the mom.  I'm the sweetie."  She's tricky. 

This is her about a month ago where she wouldn't let me help her with the dishes.  And I just let her because like I said, once she gets her mind on something, there is no changing it.  

She is by my side all the time "helping" me work in the house.  She vacuums and sweeps and it is really cute if I'm not in a hurry which is rarely the case. :)  If I am in the kitchen cooking, 9 times out of 10 she has a chair pulled up and wants to help.  

I have a lot of sleeping pictures of this girl.  I think it comes from being #4 and not having a consistent nap schedule.  Some days she's just fine, other days she's a monster and other days she just falls asleep wherever she is.  

This was the other morning when she woke up early...like 6:00am and then by 8:30 had fallen back to sleep.  I think she had thrown a big fit over something and was just tired.  Being tired is usually Gentry's downfall and it's hard because of everyone else's activities to get her a regular nap.  

Another thing about Gentry is that she is so aware of my clothes.  I go workout twice a week at my friends house and she gets all thrown off if I wear something that I don't usually wear or if I get something new.  She will always ask, "You get new pants?" I wore a shirt that wasn't necessarily a "workout shirt" today and she was like, "Why you wear that shirt?  That's jammies." 

 And Gentry plays "workout".  I don't know if that is a good thing, or a bad thing that she thinks that that is what mom does.  Hey lets play moms!  Let's workout!  She has a great burpee and really will be a quick little athlete.  

This picture just makes me laugh.  No idea what we were doing but she was obviously annoyed.  

The sweetie off to play at Morgan's house.  She's big enough now to play with the big girls and she loves it.  

 This is one of her "I'm the mom" moments.  She's learned from the best!

 I have a plethora of selfies from her.  

 And we cannot forget the lastest obsession.....FROZEN.  OBSESSED I SAY.  She wears that frozen cape everywhere.  Don't tell her it's an old one that Peggy made for Pacen.  :)  It is her frozen cape and her new pacifier is my phone listening to the frozen soundtrack.  She knows every work and switches between being Elsa or Anna.  At first she was always Elsa but recently Anna is in the lead.  

 She still loves Doc McStuffins and "Punzel" and all the other princesses but Frozen is the current obsession.  

 The thing about Gentry is that she is just fun.  And she is so full of love and spreads it around (when she's not trying to bug her sisters). :)  

 She was so happy about the Olaf pancakes she was about to burst. 

 And she really loves her family as much as I've said she's a stinker.  This was at Claira's little Thanksgiving play and she was so excited to watch her.  I just love all the things that she adds to our family.  

NOw, would I love it if she would just sit at the table at eat her dinner??!?   Of course.  But then we would have missed out on the two minute story about her and bea and simon and playing princesses and eating chicken nuggets and a bunch of other stuff we couldn't understand but just made everyone laugh.  She's just hilarious.  

So there you have it.  My one and only Gentry pie.  Life really would be boring without you.  I can't wait for you to get up and snuggle with me and demand Ovaltine and fight me about getting in the tub but then give me lots of kisses and play with Maren and cook with me and let me be the sweetie and have you decide who you are going to "be" throughout the day.  You are perfect.