Cruise!

I need to do some major catching up on our blog. So here's part one of what we've been up to the past couple of months...

Ryan and I were very fortunate to go on a 7 day Western Caribbean cruise in the middle of May. We had an absolute blast. It was so nice to get away for awhile, just the two of us, and forget about everyday life and all the challenges it brings. We are SO GRATEFUL to Mom and Dad Lloyd, Jenni and her kiddos, and Mark and Erika for taking care of Carter and Rylee for us while we were away. We missed them like crazy, but we didn't really worry because we knew they were in excellent hands (ok, I worried a little bit, but that's just in my nature as a mother).

Just hanging out on the ship

Mother's Day sunset

Mother's Day dessert!

1st formal dinner night (Mother's Day)

Stop #1: Cozumel, Mexico. It was so beautiful here and the snorkeling was AMAZING! The shopping was pretty great too.

Reading a book on the beach in Cozumel just before going snorkeling.

Stop #2: Grand Cayman (my personal fav.)

We just hung out on the beach and enjoyed the beautiful view.

Last stop: Ocho Rios, Jamaica we totally climbed these cool waterfalls like the people in the background. This was a big accomplishment for me because I don't like deep water or heights! (The water ended up not being very deep)

view of the island from the ship

Jamaica was a very interesting place and I was super glad to be back on the ship after we did the waterfall thing :).

The cruise was so much fun, but we were ready to come home and see our cute kids again.

P.S. I am obviously having trouble with my blog formatting, if you know what I am doing wrong. please let me know! Thanks!!

Today

Today I am grateful for...

Kids who play well together so I can clean my house

A good book that makes me really think about what I value and if I am going to be a sit around and whine about my life kind of person or a do something and enjoy the challenges that life brings kind of person. (I hope to one day be the latter).

The smell of lemon cleaner that currently fills my house

Gratitude

I've decided that I need to focus more on the things that I am grateful for each day, rather than the things I wish were different! So here it goes...

Today I am grateful for...

my sister-in-law Jenni who is such a great mom and friend

my trees that miraculously survived the winter and are starting to have leaves again

sunshine!

Rylee's giggle

Carter's hugs

Ryan's hard work and companionship

EASTER!!

Wow 2 posts in one day!! That's a record for me. I couldn't resist sharing some of our fun Easter activities. Of course, I managed to post the pictures backwards (man I struggle with this don't I?). The Sunday before Easter, Ryan's mom did an Easter egg hunt for the grandkids at Great Grandma and Grandpa Applonie's house.

All four kids holding still, a small miracle!

The support staff Great Grandma, Great Grandpa, and Uncle Dave

Counting the eggs to make sure the boys didn't overcompensate!

Chase and Kayla!

You gotta catch this one while she's not looking at you or she won't let you take her picture!

THE BOYS!

Rylee's biggest concern was that her beloved pink sandals were getting dirty. Man I am in trouble when she is a teenager!

The anticipation is killing them!

Easter weekend, Ryan had to work Saturday night and again on Sunday afternoon so we were unable to head to Bear Lake with Ryan's parents and sister. We tried to make the most of it! The Easter bunny came on Saturday and the kids were in heaven!

I believe we had 60 eggs to hide in our living room because the weather was to icky to go outside.

Concentration!

The Easter bunny sent the kids on a hunt for clues to find their baskets. They loved it!

Note from the Easter bunny!

So grateful for these two crazy, mischievous, adorable munchkins!

What We've Been Up To!

It's been so long since I have posted anything and I have A LOT of pictures from the last couple of months. They may be in a strange order since I am not very advanced in the technology world, but they are still fun to look at!

Our ward had a fun primary activity. The kids got mission calls and were told to report to the MTC (the church) at a certain time. While in the "MTC" they learned how to pack a suitcase, play basketball, iron shirts, and tie a tie. They then boarded a plane and headed for their various missions. Carter got to go to England. They had different adults from the ward give presentations using stuff from their own missions. Ryan did an awesome job and the kids who went to his "mission" loved it! Carter had a blast once he figured out that it was only a pretend mission and he wasn't actually leaving us for two years. I hope the next 14 years go by slowly because I'm not ready for that either!

Rylee is OBSESSED with my make up. She insists upon being in the bathroom every morning while I am putting it on. This particular morning, she decided I was taking too long and took matters into her own hands!

A couple of weekends ago, we headed south to sunny St. George to see my family. Everyone was there except Josh. It was way fun and nice to get away for awhile! We went to an awesome Rec. Center in Washington. It was perfect for the kids and fun for them to play with Olivia since we don't see them very often.

Aunt McKenzie with my cute little niece Olivia

Cousins!!!

I love this picture of Carter and McKenzie! Where did my "baby" sister go though?? I am SO OLD!

Yes she is trying to drink the water! She has the silliest, cutest personality!

A few days before we went to St. George, our ward had a bowling activity. We had so much fun!

Obviously I have a ways to go with my bowling skills!

"Maybe if I turn my head a little bit, the ball will curve?"

My other darling niece, Kayla celebrated her 2nd birthday in March. We headed to a recreation center in Murray and had a great time! We love that they are living close to us right now even if it's only for a few more months!

Yes we did show up with our kids in matching swimming suits, this was a total coincidence. You can tell they have the same grandma who likes to shop for them!

Silly kids having a great time!

Ryan's sister Jen with her two kids Chase and Kayla. Her husband is away in the military right now and we love them all so much and our so grateful for their sacrifice!

Overall, life is the same as always with us. I am starting to really enjoy having kids old enough to play with and entertain each other. LIFE IS GOOD!!!

Random Thoughts

Last night I had a bit of insomnia and I spent most of the night thinking. Since I would kind of like this blog to be a journal to print out and keep one day, I thought I would post some of those thoughts. Don't feel obligated to continue reading, this is mostly for me :)!

I have an extremely difficult time being positive. It drives Ryan crazy. I wouldn't say I'm necessarily a "negative" person (although Ry would), I think I'm more of a realistic person who always assumes that the worst case scenario is possible. It is something I've always had a hard time with and I've been trying REALLY hard lately to be more positive. However, that is harder to do late at night when the house is dark and lonely and everyone is sleeping soundly. At night I find myself asking purely selfish and childish questions.

Why do I get so frustrated with my kids?

Why can't I have the willpower to eat healthy?

Why can't I find the time to get everything done that needs to be done?

Why can't I be a better, more attentive wife?

Why can't I just be content with the two children I have and not beg for more?

Why do I have such a hard time being a good person?

Why, why, why????????

See what I mean? Not such a positive person am I? I find myself counting and saying things like, "ok, I am going to count to ten and then I am not going to be negative anymore!" It never works.

Now that it's morning and my darling children are playing so nicely together and coloring me pictures and just being the sweet spirits that they are, I feel better. I feel blessed. (Why can't I feel this way all the time?). I am so incredibly blessed, I realize this. I am so grateful for the children and husband that I have. But I am allowed to be human once in awhile right? That's what I struggle with so much. I want to be a good mom, wife, friend, daughter, sister, daughter-in-law, grand-daughter, etc. 100% of the time. 99% just isn't good enough for me for some reason. If it's not 100%, it's a failure. Never thought I was the type to be a perfectionist did you?

I guess that's why we have the Savior right? He is there to make up the 1%, 5%, 60% that we can't do ourselves. I know that to be true. That was my final conclusion before I finally drifted off to sleep in the wee hours of the morning. It's OK, He will make up the rest. One day will be better than another and that's OK. So here's to an eternity of doing my best and believing Christ will make up the rest.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Cousins!!

Ryan's sister Jenni and her two darling kids, Chase and Kayla are living nearby for the next 6 months while their daddy is out of the country. We have LOVED LOVED LOVED having them so close. We miss them so much when they are so far away! Last Saturday, I went shopping with my super awesome friend Lori. It was amazing! The last time I had a break from the kids, I was drugged up and sick so it was a much needed "girl time." Anyways...Ryan being the amazing husband/brother/uncle/dad that he is told me to go and then he volunteered to watch Chase and Kayla so Jen could have a much needed break also!! He is such a good guy! I ask myself everyday how I could possibly be so blessed as to have him in my life FOREVER!!

Here are some cute pictures Ry took of the kiddos!

Watching UP and eating popcorn

Macaroni and Cheese, please!

Meet my good buddy, Chase the storm trooper!

Check out that popcorn!

Sharing the batcave; something they are getting better at each time they play!

More batcave fun!