Deep Thoughts

I didn't do much this morning. In fact, I didn't get dressed until noon. I didn't have to do any carpooling. I didn't do any play dates for the kids. We had a week of them. I paid some bills and finished some laundry. I spent at least a half hour staring at the entertainment piece Randy installed last night. It's gorgeous! Our master bedroom is looking really beautiful.

Then the rest of the time I thought about the tragic passing of the Vranes' cousins' husband. I kept thinking this morning about how quickly life can change for any of us. Katie Vranes Byrge said goodbye to her husband for the last time on Wednesday morning as he bicycled off to work. I kept imagining how devastating the news was for Katie, especially after she recently lost her amazing mother to cancer. I kept thinking about her sweet children and how heartbreaking it must have been to pull them out of school to deliver the news. And I kept thinking about the next morning waking up and wishing it was all just a terrible awful dream. Katie is an amazing person. And while I never met her husband, I do know that everyone loved him dearly.

Of course, that kind of a tragedy always makes you look inward and contemplate life's bigger questions. I wondered what it would be like to lose Aaron? For me, I'm sure I would never want to remarry. I can't imagine finding a more perfect companion. Maybe I could deal being a widow? As hard and lonely as it would be, I know that the sealing power would give me hope and peace. But the hardest would be navigating through single motherhood. I just couldn't imagine how heartbreaking it would be for the children without a loving father...a father to teach them and love them. Who would take the girls to the daddy-daughter dance and the father-son camp-out? Who would baptize them or give the boys the priesthood? Who would walk through that door at dinnertime each night with hugs and kisses and games? And while friends and family would undoubtedly step in and bless their lives, it would never be the same, it could never be the same.

My heart aches for that beautiful family. And all you can do is hope and pray that God will pour out his blessings upon them and give them patience and peace, always remembering that in the next life it would be right again.

" So, does moms...

walk like this?" Nikki asked me this morning as she swung her hips from side to side. I laughed and made her re-do the walk so I could capture a picture of it (although it's super blurry). I'm not sure what made her think of this. But laughing with Nikki is the best way to start any day.

Another Gorgeous Day

I'm trying not to get my hopes up that Spring is here to stay. Usually we have some kind of taste of warmth mixed into our winters. In the meantime, I'm enjoying all the blossoms and sun without my wretched seasonal allergies.

I got to volunteer in Noah's class today. I love going to the school. Yesterday, Noah woke up not wanting to go to school. He was so upset and emotional that Aaron had to take him out for a hot chocolate to calm him before letting him into the classroom. Thankfully, today he was excited to go. He has the sweetest kids in his class, and reading group. I love watching him in there.

Parent pick-up for kindergarten is a dream compared to the crowded parking lots at the end of the day. I don't go every day, carpooling with Beka and Christine throughout the week. Today, Christine was out of town, so before we grabbed Mary for piano we hit the school playground. The warm sun was so incredible that we decided to go to the park after piano as well.

I love days like this...

We're so glad...

when Daddy comes home!

The weather is spring perfection! The kids have been running outside for most of the day, especially during their play dates. When Aaron walks through the door it's the best part of the day. The kids were ecstatic to join him on the trampoline. I love watching him play with them. Is there anything more attractive?

Mr. Peabody & Sherman

We went to see a cute movie today as the culmination of the long weekend with lots of play dates and fun. The movie was good, maybe a little over the kids heads. The best part was seeing the two rows of kids all happily watching together. I love teacher-in-service days. They are always a nice break from the norm.

Sea of Sleepers

There's no school tomorrow so it's sleep overs with the cousins....the girls here, the boys at Tiff's, although Noah decided to stay with the girls today. We ate yummy tacos that my mom prepared after church and divided them all up. These kids love each other so much. It's just the best!

Old Grey Movies

My mom and dad babysat for us tonight while Aaron and I ran and got a bite to eat. They are so good to watch our kids so we can have a little date night. When we got home the kids were watching an old movie with my mom. It was a Tarzan type movie and the kids we all snuggled up to Grandma listening as she explained what was going on. The kids loved it. She always knows the best old movies to watch and I can completely understand why they were so entertained with her commentary, I love watching them with her too. When it was over and the TV turned back onto a colored cartoon. Noah said, "Oh, I'm not used to those bright colors, We've been watching things in grey." Cute.