Motherhood: A Roller Coaster Through Heaven and Hell

I read recently (can't remember where) that motherhood is a rollercoaster that rides through heaven and hell multiple times per hour. Isn't that the truth?!

Yesterday, I watched in pride and wonder (and in beautiful 75 degree weather) as Jack and David completed their second day of swim team. (They love it and I am so grateful because I was so worried that it would be too hard for them, especially because it's 90 minutes!)

Afterwards, we went to Walmart pickup and after 20 minutes of wrestling and whining in the parked van, I realized that I had ordered my groceries at the Walmart in St. George (Heaven forbit I have to actually go inside and shop myself with my kids! #firstworldproblems!!!!) Then we went to free school lunch at the junior high where I encouraged everyone to try the hummus. David was the only one who was brave enough to try it, but it made him gag and then gag some more and for some reason, he couldn't stop gagging on a bite of hummus that was the size of a pea so I got to catch his barf in my hands in front of the packed cafeteria!

Later that afternoon, we took Kate to her swim lesson and she amazed us by floating on her back for 5 seconds all by herself! We all had fun swimming together afterwards until I had to sprint Kate to the bathroom so her diarrhea-filled swim-diaper-blow-out wouldn't dissolve into the pool. Jack and David offered no help to me because they were too busy fighting with each other about which carryout pizza we were going to order that night (Jack wanted Little Caesars and David wanted Papa Johns and I just wanted help with the poo!)

After ordering both Little Caesars AND Papa Johns (NEVER AGAIN!) we ran over to our neighbor's house to play on their slip and slide and just coast until Spencer got home :) Everyone was happy and I took a breath of gratitude for our wonderful friends and neighborhood, for the amazing weather and for my heavenly but sometimes hellish life I get to live ;) Life is good :)

Life Lately

We are doing all of the end-of-the-year things - it's hard to believe it's the end of the school year! As I type this, it is 1 pm and 68 degrees outside. We went to the park with friends this morning and half of the moms were wearing sweat shirts! haha

David finished up preschool last week. He had a great year with Miss Ashley! I loved their end-of-the-year program - David made his shy/too cool/goofy face the entire time! haha




Brooklyn was David's fav school friend :)


Last week we took David to kindergarten kickoff! He's so excited and SO READY!

Before it cooled down this week, we hit the pool at Lifetime! Kate LOVES swimming!


You never know when Kate is going to take an actual scheduled nap. Most days she just falls asleep in the car during carpool and sometimes transfers to the couch!

This weekend we went out for sushi for Elizabeth's birthday! Great company and great food! Tamari really is my favorite place ever for sushi!!

When we got home, we saw that the kids successfully manipulated the babysitter into thinking that Kate falls asleep in the boy's room :)

Jack had his last flag football game on Saturday. He had a great time playing with all of his friends and his coach was amazing!

When you know that 100 degrees is right around the corner, it's hard not to go outside every chance you get! 

Jack and David made their biggest "nest" yet with their friend, Vinny :)

We took our first family bike ride with both boys on their own bikes - game changer!!!

Arizona doesn't have much to work with when it comes to Spring but it's been my favorite AZ spring yet.

The sunset last night was unreal!!!

They built a "rainforest" yesterday... I love watching their imaginations run wild :)

Mother's Day Weekend and other things

Last Friday, I went to the Mother's Day luncheon at Jack's school. My friend described it perfectly:
"No food or gifts given to us, no singing or presentations, and most moms bring takeout for their kids to enjoy. Truly a special day for the kids - I mean moms."  😂I brought Dominos Pizza for lunch (Jack's request). Jack grabbed the box of pizza and when I asked him where we should sit he said, "Can I just go sit with my friends?"  😂 Honestly though, I loved watching him scarf down his pizza while he talked to his cute friends before ditching me for recess.  😆 I love being his mama ❤️

David made this for me at preschool. I didn't realize how domestic I look in his eyes! haha

On Friday night we went to Enchanted Island in Phoenix to use our Pogo pass before it gets too hot. I brought my camera to practice so I have way more pictures than I would normally post for a trip to Enchanted Island! haha












Spencer was sick from all of the spinning rides by the end of the night!

On Mother's Day, I got to take a nap after church and go hiking the in the evening. We tried hiking Pinnacle Peak and Scottsdale and really liked it! I'm so grateful I get to be a mom and I'm so grateful for my mom, mother-in-law, grandmas, and all of the amazing women in my life  💛




We found the HUGEST lizard!

All of the flowers were in bloom and it was beautiful!



-----------------------------------
A few pictures of Kate's little girl gang! She sure loves her friends!




Our neighbor, Vinny, has a pool and I love getting pictures like this from Vinny's mom :)

Our walks on the canal are coming to a close for the season... we go out every chance we can get when the weather is decent.