Watermelon......a perfect ending to a perfect afternoon

 Papa sure does know how to pick a good watermelon. It was such a fun afternoon and I am so grateful for Papa and Grammy making it possible. It is truly the time we spend with our kids making memories that makes the most profound difference. I am SO grateful for every day, every hour, every minute of our journey together.

 Can someone say Pollyanna?????

Of course she chose the biggest piece. Would we expect anything less???????

And.........Finally it was Edge's turn

 When Papa called his name he took off running SO excited.

 Perfectly set with bink of course

 YAY! He got one.

Doesn't his smile say it all? LOVE this little boy.

Girls gathered around the fire

 The girls getting ready to roast their hot dogs.

 Amree thinking she is so big in her own chair.

 Got it secured just right so it wouldn't fall off.

 "Hey Gram, can you move that please?" She wanted Grammy to move out of the way so she could get her hot dog roasted. She was so hungry. She ate 2!



Another one bites the dust.....:)

 She was determined to see everything she could and get as dirty as possible.

 This was about the millionth time she fell....

 But she just got right back up and brushed her hands together to get the dirt off and.....

was right back at it.:)

Gearing up to Shoot

 Happy as can be to be in the woods.

 Such a good boy!

 Papa setting up the quail and getting the target out.

 Explaining how the gun works and how important it is to be safe.

 Someone got a bit chilly durring the instructions.:)

 Getting ready.....

 Pleased as pie. He hit one of the quail. This boy never gets overly excited but his face and his chocolate eyes just lit up and he flashed a pleased smile.:)

 Brynlee asking 101 questions.....

 Focus....ready.....pull...PING......and then the squeal of delight came. That is just how different her and Brennan are. It made me smile and so proud of them both.

Edge patiently waiting his turn.

Brynlee and Amree

 Amree wanted to walk and figure out stuff for herself but her equilibrium is still a little off so she gladly let Brynlee hold her hand and help her walk on the rough terrain.:)

 The girls making their way back to the campfire.

Brennan and his new gun

 So Papa went on a fire to Montana and somehow he returned with this.....

Brennan was so excited. We decided it would be a good day to try it out. It was so much fun for the kids.

An Afternoon On The Mountain

 Best of buddies ready to explore.

 Amree is built just like a Bryant. Her Uncle Alby was saying today how she doesn't walk, she waddles like her Grandpa Ryan.:) I love both her and her Grandpa just the way they are. :)

On a side note, don't be fooled. The pants she is wearing are a 2T. They are a bit "snug" on her buns and thighs but as you can see they are long. :) I love this little girl SO much!

"Choose Ye This Day.....EVERYDAY"

I had a conversation with a friend of mine a few weeks ago in which she expressed, "I don't know if I drew every short straw in heaven but it sure does feel that way." That comment was the catalyst of a lot of thought for me. I don't think it is a matter of "drawing the short straw". I am learning that every choice has a natural consequence. We all have temptations and adversity in our lives. Yet Heavenly Father is bound to bless us when we face our trials, our everyday "Goliath's" with obedience to the laws and principles of the gospel. I believe that facing tragedy, temptation, hardship and adversity in our lives with faith, courage and endurance leads us to the ETERNAL blessings of the gospel. How then do we muster the courage to place one foot in front of the other day after day? The answer is quite simple. It is the Savior. Turning our hearts to Him and submitting to the will of the Father helps the infinite atonement compensate for inadequacy, hurt, betrayal, loss, etc...whatever we may feel.In relation to this, I had a conversation with a sister of mine and expressed that I wish I could change a lot of my past choices thinking it might have led me to a very different path in my life. Her response to me was simple and yet profound. She said "Molli, everyone has agency. We all get to choose. In the end what we choose has very little influence on the choices of others......especially the BIG choices."  I think my sister is right and that simple statement couldn't be more true. I believe that when we come before our Savior that the excuse of "Well, she or he did this and that is why I chose that" or "It was just too hard to try and do everything I was supposed to" or "I did everything I could that was right and life was still hard, if not harder"......will not be able to justify refusing to obey the commandments. There will be no excuse. The reality is that when we choose to live the gospel of Jesus Christ the blessings may not come in the way that we think and they may not come instantaneously but they ALWAYS come. I can truly testify of that. I truly believe NOW is the time that Heavenly Father is weeding out the weak from the strong (As my mother says), those who will choose to stand up for what is right and true no matter what temptation or hardship may come and then those who foolishly believe the enticing promises of Satan that momentary happiness is worth selling their eternal salvation for. The beauty of all of this still lies in the fact that at ANYTIME the Savior stands ready to redeem and forgive. I look forward with great hope and promise that the best for me and my kids is YET to come. That as I strive to honor my sacred covenants that I made to my Father in Heaven, that these special spirits that have been entrusted to me in this life will be mine in the eternities.That makes every trial worth the infinite blessings that come when we are obedient. The reality is that we all have a choice, everyday what path we will take, and it takes a conscious effort to strive to align our path with the Savior's. In each new day there lies the opportunity to choose to follow Him and to find Joy in The Journey. I am learning how to do this again in my life because of my kids and I am so grateful for that.  

What we are

I am learning how very true this is more and more everyday. It is by example our children learn from us. What and who we are will be evident by how we CHOOSE to live.

I love to see the Temple

I was admiring a friends picture of the temple the other day and today while the kids were napping, I had a minute and starting looking on websites for church related artwork. I don't know if it is where I am at in my life, or the recent developments of my journey but I am always filled with a sense of peace and "stillness" when I look at pictures of the temple. I have come to recognize and savor those moments because in our crazy life right now they come few and far between. Most all of the ordinances that have been performed or that I have witnessed have been at the Mesa Temple. As I sat contemplating the many events of my life, I was filled with gratitude to Heavenly Father for giving me a testimony of sacred covenants and the promised blessings that are ours IF we keep those covenants. Although I have not always understood this, I am coming to a place in my life where I have a reverence, a respect and the utmost regard for the covenants that I have made. President Eyring said "There is nothing more important than honoring the marriage and family covenants you have made or will make in the temples of God." I know that no matter what trials we face, that when we face them with faith and courage, that the eternal and everlasting blessings of happiness come. I have hope and peace in the simple fact that because I am trying to do what is right and keep those sacred promises, that my children will be with me for eternity............and that is something that is irreplaceable by anything this world has to offer.

Brotherly Love

 Brennan drove her around the yard for a LONG time! He is so patient and tender with his baby sister and anytime they are away from eachother, he always tells me how much he misses her.

 She ADORES Brennan! I remember Brennan being a lot like Amree as a baby. He was so good and so even tempered. I think Heavenly Father knew I needed an exceptional baby for my first born and my last. :) I am so richly blessed and LOVE these kids so much.

Big Helpers!

Uncle Jake came to fix our living room fan. Brennan and Brynlee were at school so it was just me and the littlest two at home. Of course he had it working in no time and it probably would have taken him a lot less time if not for the "help" of these two little workers. :) He was so patient though. Amree is thinking she is quite the little monkey and can climb on anything. She is getting so big, so fast and I am really looking forward to spending one on one time with Edge while the other two are at school. He and I have already taken some trips to the library, had play dates and I look forward to starting home preschool with him in the next week or two. He is extremely smart and is such a big boy.....now if we can just convince him to give up his binky and bliss. Ugh! One day at a time. One battle at a time. :)

Amree in the driver's seat

I couldn't resist sharing these pics of Amree with the "shopping car" Grammy bought her.

 At first she wasn't too sure about it but once she got used to it she LOVED it!

 She sits on it in front of my TV while the music is playing and "dances" which means she bounces up and down.

The funny thing is that her equilibrium is still a little shaky so it is hilarious to watch her try to get off of the car. She is so chunky that she almost tips it every time she attempts to get off. LOL.