He'll be there

I usually wait to go grocery shopping until David is home. The kids take turns coming with me. We chat and bond and they get some one on one time. Shopping with 1 is a luxury that I love. Last week as I was heading out the door with just Mallie I heard Hannah run up the stairs and beg to come. It wasn't her turn but I felt sorry for her because I usually sneak out so know one knows they're being left behind. She put on her cute sad face so I told her to grab some shoes. It was at that moment that David said, "Don't do it. It's not her turn."

As soon as we walked into the commissary the last car cart was taken. Which wouldn't have been a big deal if we didn't have to see the family stroll away right in front of us with the little girl giggling and having the best time of her life steering. Then the whining began. Hannah got herself under control just long enough to put apples in a bag and then the two girls proceeded to annoy and yell at each other the rest of the short 15 minute trip. They were bad and I was impatient. By the time we got to the car Hannah was in full on melt down mode over her mermaid that she and Mallie had pulled right in half in a tug of war at the check out. When she sobbed asking me when I was going to fix it I replied, "never if you keep on crying." Am I glutton for punishment or what? Did I really hope that answer would stop the crying?

We got home and I asked David to handle her because I didn't want to yell at her. He fixed her mermaid but she wouldn't stop crying. I told her to go to her room until she was done crying. This is a common occurrence for little emotional Hannah. She'll go to her room cry for 15 minutes read a book and then come out mostly under control. I unloaded the groceries, told David about the frustrating trip and went upstairs to try and do some scripture reading. I could hear Hannah still going strong crying in her room on the other side of the house.  I was having an internal battle about whether or not to go to her room. I didn't want to spoil her and let her think every time she has an emotional melt down I would come to the rescue telling her it will all be okay. If I do that wont I be encouraging these melt downs and crying fests that seem to occur just when I'm at the end of my mothering rope? And then the thought came so clearly to my mind that the Lord will comfort us every time we need Him. Every single time. He wont tell us we're getting spoiled or ignore us. He'll be there.

So I went right to Hannah's room, knelt down and opened my arms to my little crying girl. She didn't say a word  and just curled right in my lap where I rocked her. In a matter or seconds she had gone from crying to just a few sniffles. I said, "Are you okay?" and she responded with, "Thanks for helping me calm down Mom." And then she proceeded to apologize for everything she had done. What a powerful lesson the Lord taught me.

Preschool Wrap Up

Ashton had a cute little performance to end his year at preschool here on post. It was an amazing experience mostly because of this woman right here.

Ms. Parker was an incredible teacher and we will miss her so much!

Ashton is really into "selfies" lately. Anytime I turn on my camera I find a million of pictures just like these.

Hannah is 4

Hannah turned 4 on Monday. I've made a rule that the kids don't get a friend birthday party until they're 5. Which is fine for Hannah. She likes people a lot more these days but still prefers to play by herself.

Everytime Hannah draws she asks me to draw 3 hearts and 3 stars. So when I asked her what she wanted on her birthday cake naturally the answer was the same. So I sprinkled hearts and star shapes for the birthday girl.

Hannah got a care bear from us. Just a couple weeks ago I was out weeding the yard and Hannah was picking dandelions and flowers on the other side of the yard when I heard her talking to herself. She  cloed her eyes and said, "I wish I were a Care Bear." and then blew her little dandelion to pieces. That moment will stay with me forever as one of those moments I was so grateful to witness in my little girl's life. So adorable.

She's 4! She ennunciates every word she says. Her favorite things are still back scratches and flowers. She is 100% emotion all the time and the best big sister to Lucy. She'll do anything we ask and is constantly trying to make us happy. I love this little girl.

The Jacobson Wedding Week

I should have a million more photos of this week but I don't. On Monday we flew up to Utah. On Tuesday David's little brother got married and had a reception that night. After that we spent a fun few days with Cody and Jeffrey and Debbie and their kids at my parents house. Then on Saturday David's little sister Ashley got married and their was a reception that night. Then on Sunday the family gathered again in Midway so David's Dad could ordain him as a High Priest. Just before we left he was called into the Bishopric. A shocker for both of us since Ben is the Bishop. He'll do great and it's fun to see him sitting up front even if I'm sometimes I feel desperate for help with the kids on my own. We'll all adjust even if I know my days are numbered when Lucy starts to walk.

Our girls were super excited to see all the brides in their dresses. And David and I were really excited to meet the new spouses for the first time! 

Trevin  with the kids at his reception Tuesday night. He is one of the best uncles ever. The kids ask about him constantly.

Kim our new sis-in-law/aunt! Hannah thought she was going to win the bouquet in the bouquet toss and was devastated when she didn't. When Kim heard about it she gave her the extra one that she was supposed to save and dry. Hannah was over the moon it was so tender. We've never seen Trevin so happy and we loved Kim from the minute we met her. I'm not a reception person especially now that we have a lot of little kids. At Trevin and Kim's reception we felt 100% comfortable with all 4 kids they were playing with balloons, dancing, laughing and talking and it was such a family friendly mellow atmosphere.  After seeing that I have renewed confidence in having to pull off 3+ weddings in my future.

We haven't seen David's grandparents for a couple of years so we were so happy to see them and finally grab a picture!

I didn't snap a wedding day of shot of these two. But this is David's little sister Ashley and Josh. I took this picture and said this is their family picture in a few years! We love Josh already he is so great with the kids and so much fun.

Uncle Cody holding Hannah up to see the couple come out.

Ashley and Josh married! The girls absolutely loved seeing all these beautiful girls in their dresses.

The kids followed Ashley around holding her train. It was so cute.

The wedding week extravaganza was so fun. And we are so excited for all these new couples.